Paul, like many believers sold-out for the gospel throughout the centuries, was labelled as crazy by the Roman Procurator, Festus. Yet in this clash of worldviews, Paul argues that his belief in a resurrected Christ and his life's devotion to Him is not insane, but rather based in truth and reason. In Paul's worldview, living for the temporal was insane because eternity is real - where do we stand? Support the show
The book of Philemon illustrates the power of God's grace in the life of both a slave owner and a runaway slave. From this short memo, we can learn so much about what it means to forgive and what true repentance looks like. Support the show
As a dedicatory sermon to our new auditorium, Pastor Dressler's sermon, "The Centrality of the Gospel" reminds us that the gospel is central to our salvation and our growth. God's revelation to us through His Word and His Son bring us to the foot of the cross. Support the show
Many places in Scripture rub us the wrong way. As believers, we understand God is a God of love, but what do we do with difficult passages where it seems like God is mean and vengeful? What does the Bible mean when it says that God repented? This sermon explore some of the difficulties found in 1 Samuel 15. Support the show
Paul's letter to Timothy was an instruction guide for a young pastor dealing with the responsibility of shepherding God's people in Ephesus. Paul warns Timothy to attack the wolves, to feed the sheep and to provide for the church an example of godly living in his own life. Timothy was encouraged, as all godly leadership must be, to do church God's way. Support the show
Saul was entrusted with the critical responsibility to rule God's people as their king. More than anything else, Saul needed the wisdom of God and direction of God that came through the prophet Samuel. Unfortunately, Saul's actions led to Samuel leaving Saul on his own headed toward destruction. Believers today need the Word of God in our lives just as Saul did back then - without it, we are deprived of truth, purpose and hope. Support the show...
Paul's second letter to the Thessalonian church corrects some misunderstandings the church has about the second coming and encourages the church the stand firm in the faith. Paul expects the Thessalonians to be obedient to God's Word in the face of persecution and trials, but he also reminds them that God will provide the power they need to fulfill God's plan for their lives. Support the show
Paul's defense before Agrippa provides for us a microcosm of the Christian life. It begins when we repent and turn to God for salvation, then continues as we live like new creatures; adopted sons and daughters of God. Pain and suffering cannot be avoided, but if we continue to stand firm, God will always be there to help us along the way. Support the show
Paul wrote to the church of Thessalonica to thank them for their faith and love, to answer their questions about the return of Christ, and to encourage them to live today in light of their eternal hope. Support the show
Christians must live lives that preach the gospel to the world around them. This means that we must flee sin because we understand its cost, while loving and showing grace to sinners because we understand what it is to experience the amazing grace of God for ourselves. Support the show
In Paul's letter to the church of Colossae, Paul responds to the concerns that are brought to him by the Pastor of the church by reminding them of the glory and sufficiency of Christ. Everything we need for this life and the next is found in the person and work of Christ. If only we could keep our eyes fixed on Him! Support the show
King Saul is found hiding "in the stuff" not because he is so humble, but because he is so focused on himself that he will not rise to the task that God has called him for. Jesus Christ was willing to both lead and to serve in humility. As he washes the disciples feet in John 13, he teaches both them and us the meaning of true humility. Support the show
The Christian life is powerless when it is lived apart from constant dependence upon Christ. John 15 is a great picture that helps us understand the depth of our need for a relationship with Jesus. This sermon highlights this truth. Support the show
This lesson will explore the pagan and religious history of Halloween, and then explore a passage in 1 Corinthians that will hopefully shed some light on whether or not it is right for believers to participate in Halloween. Support the show
Paul explains to King Agrippa how his plans to ruin the church of Christ were turned upside down when he encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. From that point on, he was careful to ensure that his plans fit the purpose God has saved him for and called him to: to be a minister and a witness to the things he now knew to be true. Just like Paul, believers today must align our plans with God's purpose for our lives. Support the show...
Saul was the man chosen by God upon whom the Holy Spirit came for the purpose of defending and leading the people of Israel. Instead of fighting the Philistines, Saul began prophesying and joined the praise singers. His actions were confusing to the people because he did not perform the task expected of a future king. How often believers are guilty of confusing people because our lives do not reflect the purpose God has empowered us to accomplish. Support the show...
Paul stands before King Agrippa and confidently explains why he does what he does. Paul grew up as an impressive Jew and he believed the promise that the Messiah would come; it wasn't until Paul understood the truth that the Messiah had come, was killed, and then rose again from the dead that Paul's life changed drastically. Everything Paul does can now be explained by his belief that Jesus is alive. I wonder if we live our lives with the same hope, the same thing motivating our actions and choi...
In this passage, Luke takes his time to provide us with the details that led up to Paul's fifth trial that would take place before King Agrippa II. As we examine the scene, the contrast between the arrogant and sinful king and the humble and godly criminal becomes apparent. Paul's willingness to be humiliated for the sake of the Gospel, his confidence in the power of the gospel, and his hope and joy that cannot be stolen are wonderful examples for us. Support the show...
Legalism is a problem prevalent in churches today just as it was in first century Christendom. In this lesson, we will examine some of the dangers of legalism found in Paul's letter to the Galatians as he dealt with this awful perversion of the gospel. Thankfully, there is a solution; it is found in a passionate pursuit of and relationship with Jesus. Support the show
All Israel rejoiced to have a king like who was tall, dark and handsome. Although he was an impressive king and a good man, he was not a godly man. As a result, Saul did not complete the tasks God had for him, even when given the Spirit of God to complete them. Believers today must strive not only to be good men and women, but to be godly men and women who bear the fruit of the Spirit. Support the show
This sermon will highlight the sovereignty of God as He uses mundane, ordinary events to anoint a young man named Saul as the first king over the nation of Israel. God does not always pull back the curtain so that we can see Him working in our lives, but He is always at work. Support the show
Paul found himself in adverse circumstances for an extended period of time. Occasions arose where God could have intervened to free Paul, but rather than freeing Paul from his adversity, God worked through it to accomplish His purposes and answer Paul's prayer. This sermon will challenge believers to trust their Father and continue to walk with Him even in the midst of great and extended storms. Support the show
Believers have a tendency to become self-righteous at times and self-indulgent at others. This first lesson will explore the motivations for legalism and some of the signs to look for in our own lives that reveal our legalistic tendencies. The hope is that as we look at the Pharisees, we will examine our own hearts and lives to expose the little legalist in each of us. Support the show
Israel was destined to have a king. In fact, long before the monarchy began Moses wrote about specific laws to govern the king. The problem in 1 Samuel 8 is not their desire for a king, but that their desire comes from a longing to be just like every nation around them. God's people ought to be different, distinct from the world. Support the show
This lesson will explore a few of the primary texts used by proponents of conditional security to defend their position (Hebrews 6:1-9, John 15:1-6, 2 Peter 2:18-22). We will attempt to explain how these passages might be interpreted from a position of eternal security while remaining faithful to the biblical text. Support the show
Christians struggle. Periods of trial and difficulty can produce growth or discouragement, depending upon the response of the believer to that trial. God had Samuel set up an Ebenezer after Israel had seen a great victory so that in the future, when they were at the end of themselves, they could remember that they serve a God who can be trusted to bring them through. What He did for them in the past gave them courage and strength to face the future. Support the show...
Are true born-again believers eternally secure or is our salvation conditional upon our behaviour or our continued faith. This is a question that believers have asked throughout church history and continue to ask today. This lesson will defend the position that believers are eternally secure by founding this belief in the framework of the gospel, and then looking at a number of scripture passages that support it. In part 2 of this lesson, we will explore some of the passages that are used to sup...
God places His children in trials and tribulations not because He wants us to suffer, but because He intends to show us how much we need Him, and how He is always there. This lesson will underscore God's provision and protection when everything around us seems out of control. Support the show
Paul is given an opportunity to share the Gospel with Governor Felix and his young wife Drusilla. Rather than focus only on love, grace and forgiveness, Paul proclaims to them righteousness, temperance and judgment to come. There is much we can learn from Paul's truthful presentation of the Gospel, and a great warning for us in the response of Felix. This message contains a clear gospel presentation. Support the show
Spiritual growth is essential for the believer. Christ expects all of His children to grow in relationship and obedience to Him and His Word. This lesson will discuss some of the misconceptions of spiritual growth before tackling three key ingredients necessary to facilitate spiritual growth in the life of every believer. This is an important study for both the new and the mature Christian to evaluate where they are at and what they should do to ensure continued growth in their relationship with...
