We are getting so close to the end of this fantastic letter from the amazing Apostle Paul to the church in Rome! The contents have been about grace from beginning to end. As we enter the second half of chapter 15, we will see as the tone of the letter changes a bit. Paul speaks to them about some “odds and ends” as he draws this letter to a close. His argument made, Paul discusses some of his future travel plans with them. Not everyone has a “pioneer spirit”, but Paul certainly does! He will tra...
Jul 15, 2018•37 min
We return to Romans with Pastor Steve this Sunday after a couple weeks in the Psalms with some of our staff pastors! Maybe you remember, we have been discussing “Gray Matters”: those issues that are matters of opinion and tradition that can tend to separate and divide people. For the Jews and Gentiles in Rome it was matters of food regulations and days of worship. For us the list can continue to areas of clothing and entertainment, alcohol usage and even tattoos! Romans 15 brings this issue to a...
Jul 08, 2018•39 min
Our Youth Pastor, Dave Blaha, continues our "Favorite Psalm" series giving us a teaching from Psalm 32. Listen in as Pastor Dave reveals the power of repentance, forgiveness, and a life instructed by God and His Word from Psalm 32.
Jul 01, 2018•31 min
Associate Pastor Warren McIvor kicks off a series of messages on the Psalms by encouraging us through the powerful message of Psalm 1. In this Psalm we are encouraged by the author to live a life of devotion to God's Word, "meditating on it day and night." Listen in as Pastor Warren guides us to consider what it looks like to truly dig in and study God's Word and build our life around it.
Jun 24, 2018•33 min
As we continue in Romans chapter 14, this will be our second of three messages concerning “gray matters:” those issues of opinion, preference, and conviction that are not clearly outlined in God’s Word. If we are going to live by grace and not law, then we have to figure out some things! Am I free, in terms of the security of my relationship with God, to watch R rated movies, get a tattoo, eat any kind of food I want, have a glass of wine or go to yoga class? Last week we learned that we cannot ...
Jun 17, 2018•37 min
One of the cool things we enjoy at Calvary Chapel Fluvanna is tremendous diversity — all kinds of diversity. We have age diversity, some racial diversity, economic diversity, and the one I want to discuss today is “spiritual diversity”. What does that mean? It means that on any given Sunday, sitting in the seats are people that are fairly new believers and those that have been believers a long time. It means we have former Catholics, Episcopalians, Mennonite, Mormons, Methodists, and Baptists; a...
Jun 10, 2018•36 min
We continue is this very practical section of the book of Romans, as Paul shows how grace influences our relationships, even our relationship with governing authorities, from elected officials to sports referees! Having left us with a discussion about paying people what they are owed — including our taxes — we come again to more personal relationships. Have you ever over-slept? You know the feeling: one too many snoozes of the alarm, falling back asleep and then waking up to see that you are lat...
Jun 03, 2018•37 min
As we open up Romans chapter 13 we have our chance to discuss politics and religion from God's word on the same morning! That should make for an interesting study! As followers of Jesus in the first century and the 21st century we have discussed our relationship to God and to each other. What about our relationship to government? How does our thinking about government need to change? Whether you are a Jew living in ancient Rome or an African American living in Palmyra, human government has alway...
May 27, 2018•34 min
This section of Romans 12 is an extremely practical passage revealing God’s outline for relationships in His family and beyond. Through these verses we see what the church can be when our opinion of ourselves is lowered because our opinion of God is elevated: genuine love, family-like affection for each other, continuing in prayer, blessing those who curse us, and much more! As we study verses 9-21 we will be having a necessary and frank discussion about relationships God-style! How are our rela...
May 20, 2018•40 min
After 11 chapters of the truth about God’s grace, last time we were together in Romans we saw the opening of chapter 12 getting very practical. In those opening verses of chapter 12, Paul challenges us to present our bodies to God! This is the beginning of long lasting and true transformation. This is when we begin to see God’s will working in and through our lives. This is when the changes become internal and not just external. So, if I give my body (life) to God, what will he make me do? This ...
May 13, 2018•33 min
While Pastor Steve is away this Sunday, one of our elders, Todd Giszack, continues the study through the book of Ephesians, covering chapter 5.
May 06, 2018•43 min
While Pastor Steve is away this week, Associate Pastor and Elder Dave Vollmer continues the study through the book of Ephesians titled "Every Spiritual Blessing." In this installment, Dave covers Ephesians chapter 3
Apr 29, 2018•47 min
Continuing our study in Romans, Paul, having finished the section in chapters 9-11 dealing with Israel, now turns his attention to the church, and so do we! After eleven chapters spilling over with the discussion of, and argument for, being saved by grace and not religious performance, Paul will not neglect to bring it home to our practical lives! What we believe will always impact how we behave. These final chapters of Romans are intensely practical, and in chapter twelve Paul wastes no time ge...
Apr 22, 2018•36 min
As we finish up Romans chapter 11 today, we close out this section of Romans we've entitled the "Synagogue of Israel." If you do a quick breeze through the book of Acts, you will see that Paul the apostle would first visit the local synagogue and give them first “dibs” on the good news. When the Jews would reject it, Paul would reach out to then Gentiles! See Acts 13:46 and 18:6 for particularly strong examples. Given his experiences we can see why Paul, seeing this pattern of rejection over and...
Apr 15, 2018•40 min
While Paul is specifically burdened for the salvation of his own people, the Jews, this section of Romans has broad application, even to us today! Romans 10:14-17 has lit the fire under the “missionary movement” of the church for centuries. However, at times the fire for missions has been burning hotter than others. What is the status of that fire in our time? How about in your heart? As we talk about Paul’s hope for the religious Jews to know and believe God’s unconditional love for them, we ca...
Apr 09, 2018•38 min
After Christ was crucified on Friday, He was buried before sundown so the Jews could observe their sabbath, Saturday. There is only one reference to any events that happened on Saturday, and it is a mention of the Pharisees going to Pilate to ask for a guard at the tomb. Other than that, the Scriptures are silent. But Holy Saturday yields to Resurrection Sunday! It starts with women, including Mary Magdalene, coming to the tomb early to bring spices, and, well, you know the rest of the story! No...
Apr 01, 2018•43 min
In many ways Christians over the centuries have been guilty of making salvation a complex matter. In this continuing study through Romans 9-11, as Paul speaks directly to his fellow countrymen, the Jews, to beg them to be reconciled to God, he breaks down salvation as simply as it possibly can be represented. Specifically, verse 9 states: "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." This simple truth is so imp...
Mar 26, 2018•33 min
As we continue studying Paul's concern for his Jewish countryman in Romans chapter 9 you might say, “I'm not a Jew, so who cares!?” Well, given that the mistake the Jews were making is one that people today can make it's important for us to listen in and understand. Have you heard the saying, “So close, yet so far away?” That doesn’t just explain Israel’s predicament, but also many churchgoing people. After all, Israel, in their self-established traditions and formalities and religious routines,...
Mar 11, 2018•40 min
Having reached the summit of God’s grace at the end of Romans chapter eight we concluded that "nothing can separate us from the love of God." Chapter nine moves us into the next section — comprising chapters 9-11— a section we're calling the "Synagogue of Israel." Now we will see how God’s grace includes His plan for Israel! Chapter nine is the first step along the path, looking at God’s dealings with the Jewish people. As he rejoices over being so secure in Christ, Paul remembers his Jewish fri...
Mar 04, 2018•40 min
We bring Romans chapter 8 to a close this week with some concluding thoughts from Paul. Not only does this passage wrap up the chapter, but it ties up the entirety of the first eight chapters of Romans! This passage is as “dense” as they come! Dense? Yes! Packed with incredible, life changing truth on every line! In a world where people are filled with internal pain and turmoil — meaninglessness, unfulfilled desires, fleeting glory, confused about purpose — most people have found relief from pai...
Feb 25, 2018•35 min
Paul continues to lay out the amazing grace of God in Romans chapter 8; the grace by which His Spirit lives in us, changes us, and makes us a child of God. These are things that “rule keeping” can never do. Two more things we learn in the next section: the Spirit gives us hope and the Spirit helps us pray. Both of these are in the context of hardships. Why doesn’t God protect His children from suffering? Why is the world so messed up? If God is good, why does He allow hardship and sickness and b...
Feb 19, 2018•37 min
As we continue our Romans study in chapter 8, we continue to see Paul talking about living life “in the Spirit”. This is in contrast to another kind of life that Paul says is “according to the flesh”. Living a life pleasing to God is not about following a rigid set of moral laws and performing spiritual rituals. It is about the very life of God (the Spirit) being infused into our lives by faith and the power of God! Would you rather have a book about swimming, complete with pictures and diagrams...
Feb 11, 2018•34 min
We are now entering Romans 8, which is just a continuation of what the apostle Paul has been discussing in Chapter 7: we are in the “Power Plant” — where we discover the power source for living the Christian life! We know it is in not in our own power to live a life pleasing to God — that was the topic of chapter 7 that ends with Paul declaring what a wretched man he was! As the song states, it was amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. So do you want to know how to live this new life pleasi...
Feb 05, 2018•40 min
One of our elders, Dave Vollmer, brings a timely reminder from 1 Peter: we are meant to be pilgrims and aliens here; this place is not our home. When we get too comfortable, we forget that our hope should be in Christ alone, who has given us an inheritance that will not fade away, "reserved in heaven for you!" Peter is reminding these early church "pilgrims" that when sufferings and trials come, they are part of that reminder that this is not the place we will find our hope, and it purifies our ...
Jan 28, 2018•41 min
This next section in Romans chapter 7 is for every Christian that feels liken they are failing to be a "good Christian". Is your experience unique? Is there something wrong with you? You are coming to church and learning about God and agreeing with truth and trying really hard to do better. But you just keep falling back into old patterns and making the same mistakes. Paul’s experience is so familiar and highlights the "double nature" of people! Yes, God’s people. By the end of this section, Pau...
Jan 15, 2018•41 min
Romans chapter 7 is all about the law. Verses 1 through 6 actually follows up from chapter 6, verse 15, with another “Don’t you know….”. Paul now calls on marriage as an illustration to prove his next point. Have you ever seen how powerful love can be? I have seen people quit smoking, change hobbies, stay up all hours of the night, and do other crazy things for love, or for the one they love and want to please. What does that have to do with Romans 7? Listen in as we cover some of the most impor...
Jan 07, 2018•36 min
Wisdom may be the world's greatest need and yet is probably the only thing one cannot order on Amazon! An Amazon search reveals that out of 184,000 results, the best we can do is a best-selling book by Oprah which details "life-changing" conversations with various "spiritual people". Trust me, there is nothing meaningful these experts say that has not already been said in the Bible! If Solomon is right, and wisdom if the principal thing, and other non-biblical sources agree with him even saying ...
Dec 31, 2017•39 min
This Christmas Eve, we will look at one of the most well-known passages regarding Jesus connected with Christmas. “For unto us a Child is born, and unto us a Son is given.” This familiar quote from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah is never quoted in the New Testament! Is that surprising? How do we know it refers to Jesus? What was happening when Isaiah was preaching? What does it tell us about Jesus? Listen in as Pastor Steve unpacks Isaiah 9 as we discuss the Child that is born and the Son that...
Dec 25, 2017•35 min
Have you ever felt like your life is out of control? Have you ever felt the frustration of doing something even though you really don’t want to do it? As we step into the second half of Romans chapter 6, Paul deals with control issues. You will no doubt determine to control yourself in the “dessert department” over the holidays. But then there will be yummy desserts and you will feel compelled to eat them against your will! But what about when these conflicts are emotional, moral, or spiritual? ...
Dec 17, 2017•39 min
Leaving the courtroom, we are now entering the "power plant" at the beginning of Romans chapter six. Paul starts by answering a question that might immediately surface after we learn God's grace overflows where sin abounds: well then, why not sin so that grace might "super-abound!?" But, the truth is that we are in a war with sin, and the "weapons" of this war are the members of our body that Paul talks about. We have a choice--to offer these to God for service, or to use them as "instruments" o...
Dec 11, 2017•35 min
