Ephesians 1:3-14 Where? How? Why?

My first ever sub 30 sermon!! We were at Powhatan State Park, and the grill was right beside where I was preaching, thus the multiple references to smoke. Where How Why (Audio file for download) Before I even start today I want to ask you to do something for me. Take out a pen if you have one, and write down on a sheet of paper three spiritual blessings. Think about it, Three spiritual blessings… take a minute… In case you haven’t been here, we are in a series on the book of Ephesians. This is the third week of studying … Continue reading Ephesians 1:3-14 Where? How? Why?

Ephesians 1:3-14 “Who? What? When?”

Ephesians 1-3-14 Who What When (audio file for download) Well, Last week, we began to study the book of Ephesians. This book is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus. He is corresponding with them from prison in Rome. We looked at the greeting last week, and how paul spends a lot of time addressing our identities as people. We looked at the importance of finding our identity in Christ and nothing else. If you recall, I mentioned that you are in Adam, or you are in Christ, and all the different things we can find … Continue reading Ephesians 1:3-14 “Who? What? When?”

Ephesians 1:1-2 Who am I?

Ephesians 1:1-2 Ephesians Intro (audio file for download) This week we are beginning a study of the book of Ephesians. We looked at verses 3-10 for several weeks as we studied the essentials of the faith, but now we are going to study this book in the “normal” way, going through it several verses at a time, attempting to learn what God has for us in this book, and apply that truth to our lives. Before we get into it in full, lets look a little bit at the background of the book. The apostle Paul wrote this book, most likely … Continue reading Ephesians 1:1-2 Who am I?

The Mission of the Church

Making Disciples (audio file for download) So, last week we looked at the fact that God expects fruit from us, that we become fruitful not by trying harder, but by connecting to the vine, and that it is for our joy. Today I want to ask, and answer a simple question. “What is our mission as a church?” I know the answer to that question may be obvious to most of us, but I think it is vital for us to look at this mission often. Especially today as we break into committees and dream about where God might be taking … Continue reading The Mission of the Church

John 15:1-11 Are You Bearing Fruit?

John 15, Are You Bearing Fruit (audio file for download) The next two weeks we are looking at two passages of scripture related to our lives as believers and our life as a church. The goal is to prepare us for our first ministry/committee day next Sunday. The reason I want to prepare us this way is two fold. 1. I want us to evaluate honestly where we are as a church, but in doing that, I don’t want us to fall into the trap of thinking that we can apply some type of gimmick to our church and see “results” … Continue reading John 15:1-11 Are You Bearing Fruit?

Essentials: Respond To Jesus

Essentials, Respond to Jesus (audio file for download) Essentials: Responding To Jesus. This week concludes our study of the essentials of the Christian Faith. While this has not been totally exhaustive explanation of all that we believe as Christians, I hope that it has brought each of us more clarity about what it is we mean when we read our affirmation of faith every week. I hope that Lord has been drawing each of us to a deeper understanding of what he has done for us in giving us His word, and sending us His son. This has all been based … Continue reading Essentials: Respond To Jesus

Essentials: The End Times

Essentials, The End (audio file for download) Essentials: the fulfillment of Christ’s work (End Times). Have you noticed lately how our culture has been infatuated with the end times? Whether from a Biblical perspective or not, there is a fascination in all of us with the end of the world. If you just take a look at some of the movies coming out in the past few years you will see a trend of these post apocalyptic earth movies. The latest one that I am aware of is called Alysium. Where it seems earth has been destroyed for the most part … Continue reading Essentials: The End Times

Essentials: Christ’s Work

Essentials, Christ’s work (audio file for download) The work of Christ We have been looking at the basic beliefs of the Christian faith. We have looked at the authority of scripture, and the mystery of the trinity, we looked at the person of Jesus, and we looked at who we are as people. Last week we looked at how we as humans are made in the image and likeness of God, yet we are fallen because of the sin nature that we inherited from Adam and Eve through our parents. As you think about what you believe about Jesus and the … Continue reading Essentials: Christ’s Work

Essentials: Man

Essentials, Man (audio file for download) We have been looking at the essentials of the Christian Faith over the past few weeks. What are the primary “doctrines” that make us who we are. We looked at the authority of scripture, the trinity, and the person of Jesus. Today we come to everyone’s favorite topic, You! Now, I know you have heard me say before that I don’t preach my sermons with specific people in mind. Well, today that is not the case. Today I do have specific people in mind while preparing and now preaching this sermon. Are you curious who … Continue reading Essentials: Man