Camden Bible Fellowship Church - Sermon Podcast

Oh the Rust

Sun, 7 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST

Romans 6: 12-14

Just a small spot of rust, why should I worry about that tiny spot? That may be what you are thinking, but over time we watch the spot grow and grow and before we know it, we have a hole in the fender of the car. If only we had taken care of it when it was small and manageable. Sin can have the same effect in our life or marriage. That one area where we simply overlook some sin in our life till it grows into something that is �big and nasty� requiring lots of painstaking effort to deal with the consequences, sometimes the damage will have long term effect on our life or well being.

Day 23 Love Dare: Remove anything that is hindering your relationship, any addiction or influence that�s stealing your affections and turning your heart away from your spouse, (or God).

We are Different

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 12:14-26

In our world today, it seem like there are times when we are all expected to think and act alike. If we think or act differently then anyone else we are accused of being strange, offensive or rebellious. But I have some news for us today. We are different and there is a reason we for those differences.

God, Change My ______________

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST

Romans 12:1-2

No matter were you work, where you go to school or who you�re married to we can always finds something that we want changed. Change can be a good thing in our life. Change can grow and stretch us to be better than we once had been, however, we need to consider how we need to have change in our lives.

Love Your Enemy�Right!

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 5:43-48

Your driving down the road, beside you is a fellow who has been driving recklessly and you begin to think that you may be in danger. At that moment, you notice that he has a tire that is about to explode. What do you do? Do you try and alert the driver or do you just get out of his way and let whatever happens happen? After all, he has been driving reckless. And, you not making him crash, your just letting it happen. Soooooooo, why not let it happen.

Mordecai found himself in a similar situation. King Ahasuerus was not the most likeable king. The king also had issued an order that resulted in Esther being taken away from Mordecai. So, what is he to do?

A King�s Selfishness Grows

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST

Esther 2:1-16

Why is it that some many people have 100% hind sight? We often hear about the �Monday Morning quarterback� who is able to make the right choice after they can see that the choice that was made didn�t work.

Ahasuerus began to think that the decision to send Vashti away may not have been a good thing, he was missing her and now what was he to do.

We need to understand that God will not allow evil to have its� way with His people. Although the king�s sin has surfaced we need to understand that had Ahasuerus been a Godly leader Haman�s plan to destroy the Jews may have never been allowed to come to reality.

Anger Controls You

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST

Esther 1:13-22

When you get into an argument who do you run to if you attempt to solve the issue? Would you go to a person who you know is going to disagree with you? Most likely not, you will try to find a person that you know will find agreement with you.

Leader: Friend or Foe

Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST

Esther 1:1-12

The task of choosing our friends is not always easy. Those who may seem good in the beginning may give us advise that they think we want to hear. But what if we are chosen to be a friend, what kind of friend should we be.

We will be beginning a journey through the book of Esther, a book where we will not find the name of God and yet a book that is full of examples for us to apply to our life.

Feast or Famine

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

Psalm 119:1

Let's Consider
-We all need to eat regularly, "Digesting the Word is no different
-If we are to obey God we need to know what He wants
-God's Word reveals God's desire and instructions
-Without the Word we become weak and sickly
-Commit to being reenergized through the reading of God's Word

Hope Arrived

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

Luke 1:26-38

Let�s Consider
-Sometimes God leaves us in silence as we trust Him.
-God reaffirmed the promise was close at hand.
-Keep looking and trusting God in the midst of your situation.
-You didn�t get to where you are over- night, don�t expect to be relieved of your challenges overnight.
-God began His plan to save man with the birth of a baby.
-God can use you to bring change to others in the community.

Hope Foretold

Sun, 6 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

Genesis 3

Sermon Highlights:
-At our lowest point God promises relief
-Light into darkness chases away the dark.
-God desires our dependence on Him.
-God requires judgment of sin and pays the price with His Son.
-Hope s available to you

Giving Thanks

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

1 Chronicles 16:7-36

What is the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear "lets give thanks"? We are about to eat, we are getting started, OK, who gave what? The turkey is ready to eat. But what does it really mean to give thanks?

Why is There Suffering?

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Job 1:20-22

Anytime we hear about a child that was abused or some senseless crime takes place we wonder "Why would God allow this to happen". A more powerful question is this, If God is all knowing, then He is aware of everything that goes on. If He is all powerful, then He can prevent or correct anything bad. And if He is completely loving, then He cares about everything that goes on. So, why is there suffering in the world?

How God Shows His Love

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

John 14:1-6

You Christians are way to narrow minded. You think you alone know what God is thinking. Does any of that sound familiar?

Is the Bible Really the Word of God?

Sun, 1 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

2 Timothy 3: 10-17

In this sermon we will look at: The Reliability of the Bible, How the Bible Unique, Does the Bible have Errors, and the big quesiton Is it True.

God are you there?

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Psalm 19:1

The Universe as Evidence, Design Reflects a Designer, Morality Shows Moral Standard Giver, What about Jesus, What about Changed Lives?

Restoring the Things of God

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Nehemiah 13:10-30

During our few years of living in Virginia I worked with a contractor that was involved with the restoration of a number of older and historic homes. Each detail of these homes was research and investigated in order to rebuilt it as it was originally designed. There was always great satisfaction for the home owner and friends as they viewed the finish project. -No one likes a rundown home, -we all prefer the remodeled version.

Steps to Refocus

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST

Nehemiah 9:1-38

How many of us have work project either at home or work that we just keep putting off because we dont really want to deal with everything involved? Ezra had been reading the scriptures when the people of Israel when they paused to celebrate the feast of booth. Now they regroup and once again whet back to confessing of their sins.

Ancient Words Are Not Rusty Words

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST

2 Chronicles 34:14-21

Now that the wall was finished what would the people do? Ezra begins by assembling the people together and begin to read the Word of God.

By the Help of God

Sun, 3 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST

Nehemiah 6

Have you ever played the childhood game of "monkey in the middle?" As someone passes the ball back and forth, others try and distract you from the task of catching the ball and achieving the goal of getting out of the middle. Nehemiah is facing a similar challenge, he has been focused on building the wall while Sanballat and Geshem try and disrupt him and get his efforts on something other than completing the wall.

Feeling Overwhelmed

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

Nehemiah 5:1-19

Have you felt like you were in such a poor situation and you turned for help only to learn the �help� came with string attached? Feeling all tied up with No options? This is where some of the people in Jerusalem found themselves.

Looking Forward

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

Nehemiah 3: 1-12, 28-32

Have you ever wondered why someone calls you up to help them when there is work to do at their home? Sometimes it is because they helped you in the past and sometimes it is simply because when there are many people to help with the work the task seem easier. How would you feel if while you were helping your friend, his neighbor began to mock your work?

Possibilities Created by God

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

Nehemiah 2: 1-20

Have ever walked into work and had a boss say to you, �you don�t look so good?� When that happened were you concerned that this might mean you would have to die because you �didn�t look good� in front of you boss? I don�t think this would ever be a problem in our world today but in Nehemiah�s day, being sad before the king could result in your death.

Turning Grief to Hope

Sun, 9 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

Nehemiah 1:1-11

How do you feel when you get bad news? It is horrible, you feel grief but unfortunately we tend to go from grief to anger to blame, especially when we think that someone is responsible. Today we want to see Nehemiah�s example and learn how he handled his grief and how that grief was turned to hope.

Hear the Word of the Lord

Sun, 2 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

Isaiah 1:10-17

If you are like me there are times when someone is speaking that my mind starts to wonder. Being a carpenter, I start to look around and I "count tiles in ceilings" or try to figure out the size on a room or number of chair, only to realize that I missed something that was said. Today, I want to give you permission not to hear me. However, I do want to encourage you to Hear God.

Pray At All Times

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST

Like Kneading Dough

Sun, 8 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 13:33-35

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a woman who took leaven and mixed into three pecks of dough. How does God mix His grace throughout ALL of our lives?

Like a Sower

Sun, 1 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 13:24-30

The Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed... How are we supposed to livei n this world among unbelievers and so-called believers?

God the Spirit

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

What does the Spirit do in our lives?

God the Son

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Hebrews 1:1-11, 2:8-18

Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Why does He deserve first place in our lives?

God the Father

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 5-7

Who is God and what is He like? This sermon series will show us how each of the Persons of the Trinity interacts with us. This sermon shows us the Person and work of God, the Father. He provides for us, approves of us, matures us, and sets our vision higher.

A New Year, a New Opportunity

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST

Mark 2:18-22

A new year is upon us, so what opportunities face you this coming year? What does God want to do in your soul this coming year? Lets talk about the clean slate that belongs to us in Christ.

Hope of Nations

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST

Revelation 11:15-19

The nations of this world regardless of how good intentioned are nothing compared to the kingdom Jesus will consummate at His return.

Prince of Peace

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST

Because Jesus is fully God and fully man, He is able to broker the deal of making peace between God and man. Mankind and God are at odds because we have sinned in rebellion to Him. This sin separates us from God. Jesus came from heaven to earth to take our sin upon Himself and kill it on the cross. Those who are in Christ are at peace with God.

God AND Man

Sun, 7 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST

Isaiah 9:6-7

The Old Testament prophesied 600 years before the birth of Jesus that the Messiah would be both God AND man. In this message, we see that all the Old Testament speaks of the Messiah as God and man. It is vital to our salvation that Jesus is both because it enables Him to be the middleman in brokering our redemption from sin.

A Heart Beating for Others

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Does your heart beat for others? What is the outreach pulse of your heart? and what about the outreach pulse of our church? Its time for a well-check.

Faith in Our Great Hope: Jesus

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

Because we have such a great cloud of witnesses, let us with endurance run the race before us and fix our eyes on Jesus who has begun and who will finish our faith. Lets talk about the return of our Lord!

Faith Says Your Plans, Not Mine

Sun, 9 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 26:36-57

Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, had a conversation with the Father. He considered bailing out of the mission... the greatest mission of all time... the mission to set mankind free from their sin. He was to go to the cross and literally take all our sin as if it were His own and pay the punishment of our sin. His conversation went like this... Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. But not My plan, but Yours be done. Ultimately, His faith in the mission and His faith in the Father led Him to give up His own self-interest to obey the plan of God. Do we have that kind of faith?

Faith Says No Matter What

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST

Daniel 3:8-30

The three friends of Daniel had such great faith in their all-powerful God, that they trusted Him to deliver them from the fiery furnace. No matter what, they were committed to living for God.

Faith Produces Wisdom

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST

1 Kings 3:5-15

God gave Solomon the opportunity to ask for any one thing and it would be granted. Solomon recognized his need and asked for wisdom to make right and just decisions. God tells us through Solomon in the Proverbs that faith is the beginning of wisdom. Let us learn to build wisdom by faith in God.

Testing the Spirits

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST

1 John 4:1-6

How do you know if someone is telling you biblical truth or false teaching and heresy?

Faith to Live Right

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST

Judges 2:10-23

God gives us the faith to live right. So much of this world calls for us to live for self, sin, and passing passions. God invites us to live for grander, loftier, more noble things. The cycle within the perios of the OT Judges illustrates to us that without introspection and self-examination, we will inevitably fall into the traps temptation has laid for us.

Faith in Gods Plan

Sun, 5 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST

Hebrews 11:24-31

In this message we consider Moses, Joshua, and Rahab who all had faith in the plan of God to redeem Israel from slavery and then bring them to the Promised Land. Moses gave up his passing pleasures to cling to the plan. Joshua gave up on the giant obstacles to cling to the plan. Rahab gave up her old way of life as God's enemy AND a prostitute to cling to the plan. Here are examples for us of trusting God and His plan.

Faith through Struggles

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST

Genesis 50

Joseph had a life full of struggles. Yet his faith in God never wavered. Rather, he saw God at work through all his difficulties. He had promises made to him by God and by faith, he knew that God would see those promises to reality. Let us commit to faith even through our struggles.

Our Struggle Against Self, pt 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST

1 John 3:1-10

Continuing from last week, we are using the same theme of our struggle against self. John is fairly extreme in how he phrases this truth in v6 he who abides in Him does not sin. Lets talk about this struggle.

Abraham: Faith in the Impossible

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST

Hebrews 11:8-19

Abraham and Sarah had a promise from God... you will have a son. The problem though was that they were in their nineties and Sarah had been barren her whole life. In human eyes, this promise was impossible. But to God, all things are possible. In this message, we ask ourselves whether we trust in our visible, insurmountable trials or in our invisible, omnipotent God and Savior.

Our Struggle Against Self, pt 1

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST

1 John 3:1-10

The hope that Christ gives to us as believers is a source of assurance and is a motivator to struggle against the old nature of sin in our heart. We are called on by Him to purify ourselves from sin. John goes so far as to say Whoever practices sin is not of God. Let not your heart be troubled, but let us discuss these truthes. This is part one of a two part section on vv1-10.

Noah: Faith in the Unseen

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST

Hebrews 11:7, Genesis 6-9

Noah had to have great faith in what was unseen. It had never rained, let alone flooded. Man had yet to conquer sea travel in his day. God simply told him to go on this adventure of the unseen and he resoundingly said YES! Faith does that. With faith we can be heroes in our day by trusting our unseen God through the uncertainties of life.

Our Struggle Against anti-Christs

Sun, 7 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST

1 John 2:18-29

There is coming an Anti-Christ, the man of rebellion, but even now there are all sorts of anti-Christs. John gets into the various people who are against (anti) Jesus (Christ). They are opposed to Him, His message, and His people. So what are we to do about the anti-Christs in our lives?

God: Faith in the Mission

Sun, 7 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST

Acts 17:16-31

The first person that ever had faith was God. God set His mind to His mission, believed His mission would become a reality, and then embarked on bringing His vision into reality. Now when we say God has faith... we are not suggesting that it is a wishing kind of faith, but rather a definite and sure trust. God believes in His mission to mankind and He is making it happen. Let us commit ourselves to this most noble of missions, the mission of God.

Committed to Reaching Out Effectively

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 9:35-38, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Are we totally and unreservedly committed to winning the lost to Jesus Christ? Today we continue talking about the purposes of the Church and specifically, we will focus on two church systems in need of repair: outreach and adoption.

Overcoming the World

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST

1 John 2:12-17

John describes our source for overcoming the world and then our call to overcome the world. This idea of overcoming is all about fighting off temptation. Beyond the sin itself that we fall in to, there is the more subtle and pervasive temptation to have a world mindset. Do you think the way Jesus thinks or do you think the way any lost person thinks? This is the core of the message in 1 John 2:12-17.

I Will Build My Church

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 16:13-24, Matthew 9:35-38, Luke 18:1-8

Jesus said that HE would build His Church. Whenever we talk about growing the church, we need to come to Him, the cheif-architect and seek His will. We need to pray for wisdom as we go out into His harvest and win souls.

Religion v. Relationship

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST

Galatians 4:21-5:25

In one final swoop, Paul places religion and relationship on trial against one another. He weighs the nature, practicality, and outcome of both. Finally, we see that works-based, man-made religion falls short of its own goals while grace-based, God-made relationship comes out on top.

Walking in the Light

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST

1 John 1:5-2:2

If you have ever taken a walk in complete darkness, you know that it is incredibly dangerous. Similarly, living life outside of a friendship with God is risky business. It is unrewarding, unsuccessful, and unfulfilling. So many people claim to be on good terms with God yet walk in darkness, in sin. Let us be quick to confess, quick to resolve, quick to make up with the greatest friend thru life.

Praying the Will of God

Sun, 3 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST

1 John 5:14-15, John 14:13-14, Matthew 6:10, Luke 18:1-8, John 16:23-28, John 15:16

Jesus taught us that if we ask anything in His name, we will receive it. That is a pretty big promise. What does it mean to pray in Jesus name? It is not a magic formula. But we cannot just dismiss the promise either. Let us begin to pray in Jesus name!

Gods Power in Saving Us

Sun, 3 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST

Romans 1:1-7, 14-17

VBS 2008 Special! This year, our VBS theme is Power Lab by Group Publishing. In Power Lab, students will experience the power of Jesus. Today, as part of our VBS festivities, we invite the congregation as a whole to experience the power of Jesus in saving us from sin.

The Word of Life

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST

1 John 1:1-4

Jesus Christ is the Word of Life. He speaks the message of hope from God to mankind. More so, He IS the message of hope from God to mankind. Jesus is the Word of Life. It is our job to let the world know about His living-giving act of love on the cross. Through Him all who believe have forgiveness from their sins and a brand-new start at life. We have great news to tell, let us be busy spreading it.

Religion: the Death of Faith

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST

Galatians 4:8-20

God does not want us to be religious people in a religion. He wants us to be in relationship with Him. The Galatian Church had exchanged the joy of relationship for bondage under religion. Religion binds, robs, and extinguishes joy in our soul. Relationship revives, stimulates, and nurtures life-change.

Why Are Personal Matters Scripture?

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST

Colossians 4:7-18

All Scripture is useful (2 Tim 3:16)... but what about sections like this one where so-and-so greets you, and make sure to great whats-his-name?? Why is this in the holy Word of God? There are a myriad of valuable lesson to be learned if we take the time to investigate. So... lets!

Gods Promise

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST

Galatians 3:24-4:7

God made a promise a long time ago. The promise was that He would cure the stubborn, sinful hearts on humanity. He called it the New Covenant. And now, in Jesus Christ, it has been offered to all humanity. Its cost is faith in the work and person of Jesus. It is a life-transforming experience, being worked on by the Holy Spirit.

Representing Jesus

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST

Colossians 4:2-6

How can we better represent Jesus? All this book long, we have seen that Jesus is the center of all that we are as humans. He is the pre-eminent one and we are IN Him. Now we come to this important question of being good representatives of Him.

Free at Last

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST

Galatians 3:15-29

God has set us free from the Law through Jesus. We are not bound to follow it, but follw the inward working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. He changes our impulses and motivations and behaviors to do what is right for the right reasons. He makes us truly holy from the inside out, rather than just changing the outward behaviors. What this means, though, regarding the Old Testament 633 laws is this: we are are not required to follow them. We are free at last!

Families Living for Jesus

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST

Colossians 3:18-4:1

God has made the family the basic building block of human civilization. How should a fmaily function if it wants to succeed in its goals? What is the purpose and the goals of family life? Lets talk about the family.

Begun and Perfected by Faith

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST

Galatians 3:1-14

The fact is, not only are we saved apart from works, we are also perfected apart from works. It sounds strange at first, but it is true. We do not become holy by keeping a set of rules, but rather, by believing in Jesus and living like Him. The end result is that we do end up doing much of the same behaviors as those that wantto keep rules, but the core and the motivation are so very different.

In Christ, We Are All Right

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST

Galatians 2:16-21

This is the greatest news you will ever hear! How can God declare you and I innocent? We have all done wrong. We are not holy. Why should we be let in to heaven? Not by doing good, because all our good is half-hearted and our present good does not undo our past bad. Our innocent verdict comes when Jesus Christ takes away our guilt and sin by taking it upon Himself. In Christ, we are all right.

Beliefs Change Behavior

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST

Colossians 3:1-17

We do not persue holiness out of aspiration to deserve the favor of God. We do not pursue it out of checklisting legalism. We persue holiness as a response to all that God has done and is doing for us.

In Christ, We Are One

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST

Galatians 2:11-16

All Christians, Jew, Gentile, Male, Female, White, Black, English, Spanish, are all one in Christ. It is not our nationality or ethnic values or traditions or quote-unquote old life can unite in the same way that Christ does.

The Subtle Seduction of Religion

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST

Colossians 2:16-23

Because we need to stay rooted in Christ, we should not let anyone judge us on anything but His gift of righteousness to us. No one should judge us as it pertains to made up rules and morals, only on what Christ has done for us.

The Same Good News (2)

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST

Galatians 2:1-10

It is so unique being part of the Diverse Body of Christ. There are so many ways to be used of God in this fallen world. He has equipped us all uniquely. It is affirming to come to these great examples in the Scripture that remind us that having a niche ministry is okay; we all fit in to the grand scheme of God to make this world His kingdom.

Stay Rooted in Christ

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST

Colossians 2:1-15

Why are we so prone to put our relationship with Christ on hold momentarily for the passing pleasure of sin? We will see that Christ and He alone is the motivation for staying rooted. Too often people will cite reasons for being faithful like: be good, it would be a shame, you would lose your crown, etc. None of these ever work because at the end of it all, they are shallow, man-centered reasons for maintaining faithfulness. In this text we see that Christ alone is our mooring, our root, our glory.

The Same Good News (1)

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST

Galatians 1:11-2:10

Paul defends the message of Jesus against any attacks. First he illustrates that it is a Divine message and does not have its origin in human thinking. Then he shows that indeed, all Christians agree on the content of that message. It is only after fourteen years of ministry in Gentile regions of the Roman Empire that Paul confers with the apostles of Jesus. When he does initiate contact with them, they all find that it is the same message spread by both groups to all the world. We share the same message with all true believers.

On Mission with Jesus

Sun, 1 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST

Colossians 1:23-29

Paul describes his role in Christian ministry, that he is on mission with Jesus. In fact, as we serve in our varying capacities, we really are serving in the strength and wisdom that Jesus provides to us. NOTE: lightning fried the wireless mic half way thru the sermon :-(

Contend for the Faith

Sun, 1 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST

Galatians 1:6-10

Paul calls the church out on the carpet for their apparent rejection of the real Gospel. Why had they turned aside? To rely on their own worth and work rather than on Christ alone. Let us inspect ourselves and ask why we have a standing before God. Let us be diligent to stand in His grace alone. Let us also be diligent to stand up for the faith in view of all its adversaries.

The Supremacy of Christ

Sun, 25 May 2008 19:00:00 EST

Colossians 1:12-23

In this section, Paul illusrates why Jesus alone is the focal point of our Faith. It is not His sacrifice plus anything, but He and He alone which accomplishes all that is necessary for my salvation. He is the supreme authority of all existence.

Issues in Galatia

Sun, 25 May 2008 11:00:00 EST

Galatians 1:1-7

The introduction to the themes in the letter of Paul to the churches of Galatia. Essentially, this region contained a mix of Jews who turn to Christ and Gentiles who turned to Christ. Now that they had to live and worship together, some issues of culture and Biblical application. Over the next few months, we will look at the deep, needful content of Galatians.

Praying for Strangers

Sun, 18 May 2008 19:00:00 EST

Colossians 1:1-12

We begin Life in Christ, our study of Colossians with Pauls prayer for an unknown group of people. He never met them, he only heard about them thru a church planter mentored by Paul, namely Epaphras. We end our time talking about our prayer life. Are we so diligent in prayer for those weve never met?

The Contagious Godliness of a Christian Woman

Sun, 11 May 2008 11:00:00 EST

1 Peter 3:1-9

Women exert great influence within their families and with their husbands. We can all think of women who use their abilities to boss around, but can we think of a godly woman who uses her influence to deepen the spiritual maturity of her family? Lets encourage our ladies with a recentering on their high calling!

On Mission in Camden

Sun, 4 May 2008 11:00:00 EST

1 Thessalonians 1

Because we have an amazing God, we also have an amazing mission. Our mission is to make Him known. How can we do this as part of the vision for our church?

Spirit of Assurance

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST

Romans 8:14-17

The Holy Spirit resides in all believers and continually assures them that they are born again and on their way to heaven. He does this in a variety of ways that we will look at tonight. Be encouraged, if you have the Son, you have life!

What Renews You About God?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST

Isaiah 40

What is it about God that renews your strength and spurs you on to live for Him?

The Spirit Helps as We Read the Word

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST

John 14:26, John 16:13, 1 John 2:26-27

The believer is not left with his own mental abilities to understand and use the Scriptures. The Spirit is the gift of God who guides us into the truth. We do not need teachers to help us, we already have the Spirit to help us.

Hope for the Family

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST

Genesis 2:18-25

Pastor Dan Allen, director of Pinebrook Bible Conference in Stroudsburg PA, brings a message of encouragement and challenge for families.

The Holyfying Spirit

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST

How does the Spirit make us more like Jesus?

What Bothers You in His Word?

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST

Isaiah 45, Romans 9:6-16, 1 Timothy 2:9-15, 2 Peter 3:3-13

What kind of question is that? We arent supposed to be bothered by anything in the Bible! And therein lies the significance of the question... I want our people to have faith in God, but so often they have real doubts about something in the Word that never get addressed because the Church has created a climate in which we cannot ask these questions. So I stepped out on a limb and asked people for their honest, heart-felt responses to this question. Hopefully we can begin to resolve some of the tension. More importantly, I hope we can set a model for how we resolve any tension.

Spirit: Guide in Gods Will

Sun, 6 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST

Romans 8:5,12-16,26-27

How do we know what God wants us to do? The Spirit guides us to accomplish Gods desires. Of central importance is holiness... God want holiness in our lives. But also, God has individual jobs for you and me to do. it is the Spirit that teaches us what to do for the kingdom of God.

What Baffles You About God?

Sun, 6 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST

John 1:1-18

What baffles, dumb-founds, humbles us about our God? Things that Christians accept but always wonder about... things that you wondered about on the survey... The problem of evil, the incarnation, and atonement. We, in childlike faith, need to be curious, searching for answers, hungry to grow, and quick to be amazed at our Amazing God!

The Indwelling Spirit

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:00:00 EST

John 7:37-39

We begin a subsection on the work of the Spirit in believers as part of our study on God, the Holy Spirit. We beign by talking about the fact the Spirit of God dwells in the hearts of all true believers. We will look also at the change from the Old to New Covenants as it pertains the role of the Spirit.

What Excites You About God?

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST

Ephesians 3:12-21

If God really is amazing, that should excite us, stir our emotions, and motivate us to live for Him. SO, what excites YOU about God?

Just As He Said

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST

Luke 24:1-12

When the disciples hear that Jesus rose from the dead, their reaction is suprise and disbelief. The angels and Jesus Himself remind them that He had been saying all along His earthly ministry that He would be rejected, killed, and then rise from the dead. It should not be a suprise.

The Holy Spirit in the Sacrificial Death of Jesus

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:00:00 EST

Hebrews 9:13-14

The text says that Jesus offered Himself, through the Eternal Spirit, to God. What or who is this Eternal Spirit? Is it the Holy Spirit? Is it the spirit/soul of Jesus? If the Holy Spirit, what role did He have in the death of Jesus? How does the Spirit guide us to ministry?

Entering the Kingdom

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST

Revelation 21:1-12

Concluding our journey of faith is the resurrection when we will live with God in the New Jerusalem. The journey in this life is different for all Christs followers, but all of us have the same great hope of eternal life.

The Role of Holy Spirit toward Unbelievers

Sun, 9 Mar 2008 19:00:00 EST

John 16:7-11

What does the Holy Spirit do in the lives of unbelievers? He convicts of sin and compels them to be saved by regenerating their souls from spiritual death.

Making the Most Out of Church

Sun, 9 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST

Hebrews 10:19-31

What is the point of Church? How does life within the Church relate to your personal journey of faith with God? Is it a help or a hidnrance? Let us use church for all it is worth.

Who Is the Spirit?

Sun, 2 Mar 2008 19:00:00 EST

Is the Spirit God or just some force that God exudes? Why do Christians believe that the Spirit is God? What is the Spirit like? What does He do?

When I Am Off the Path

Sun, 2 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST

Hebrews 5:11-6:12

When I find myself stagnating in the faith, what do I do? How do I revitalize the faith? How to I restore the joy of His salvation? Lets talk about restoration.

Who is the Greatest?

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST

Luke 22:24-30

I am the best! Pretty arrogant, right?!? Twice in Luke, the disciples got into this fight. When we compare ourselves to one another, we take our eyes of Christ who truly is the greatest.

Ten Lepers

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST

Luke 17:11-21

Jesus rescues ten leprous men, but only one returns in gratitude. Imagine being healed from an incurable disease and not thanking your physician! Yet only one was thankful. So we see that the offer of Good News is embraced by very few.

Growing Strength

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST

Joshua 1:1-11

Mind, Heart, and now Strength... let us love God with all the energy and strength we have. Let us use our lives to minister to others for the sake of Jesus and His Church.

Blind Man

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST

John 9

This episode features a conversation with Jesus and His disciples about chronic medical disease, the healing of a blind man, the belief of that man and the unbelief of the religious system, and the welcoming in to a whole new community known as the Church out of ones old belief system.

Growing the Heart

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST

Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Today we discuss loving God with all our heart. As the mind engages the real and tangible facts of the Faith, the heart engages the equally real and tangible emotions of the Faith. Are you too heavy on the facts side? Begin to grow your heart. God is seeking out worshippers who worship Him in spirit and truth.

Growing the Mind

Sun, 3 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

We need to love God with all our mind. So if we want to love God deeper, we need to grow the mid. Lets talk about growing the mind.

The Pitfall of Persecution

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 13:18-23, Hebrews 11:23-29

We know pleasure in itself is not wrong because Jesus then balances on the one hand pleasure is a pitfall with on the other hand persecution is a pitfall. So it is not the thing in itself that is wrong, but it is our propensity to buckle under the lure of pleasure or the taunt of persecution. Lets talk about standing firm and choosing to endure.

The Adultress

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST

John 8:1-12

This conversation that Jesus has is with a woman caught in the act of adultery and her accusers. This encounter teaches us the compassion of Christ, the seriousness of our sin, and the place where judgment ought to begin, namely, with ourselves.

The Pitfall of Pleasure

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

One of the chief methods that Satan uses to distract Christians from developing a deep and sustaining friendship with God is the distraction of pleasure. No pleasure is in and of itself sinful, for God made all things for our enjoyment and we should receive it with thanksgiving, but if we live a life filled with chasing the next pleasure, then we are distracting ourselves. Find what distracts you and discard it!

The Centurion

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST

Luke 7:1-10

This conversation that Jesus has with a centurion soldier shows us what kind of character Jesus is looking for in us. Two things about this centurion: humility and faith. Humility... I am not worthy for Jesus to come to me. Faith... Jesus can say the word and it will be done. Let us have humility and faith in our lives.

Toolbox for the Journey

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST

2 Timothy 3:12-17, Ephesians 6:18-20

We all know the sorts of things that go in a handmans toolbox... but what sorts of tools go into our spiritual toolbox? What are the essentials for our spiritual journey with God through this life? The Word, Prayer, Advisors, and Willingness.

Beginning the Journey

Sun, 6 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST

Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9

We will begin the journey at the beginning: how does someone begin a journey of faith? At the cross of Jesus. In this series, we are going to talk about the journey of faith we are on with God. Building friendship with Him, developing character, the toolbox for a life of faith, the common pitfalls to faith are all topics we will look at together.

The Woman at the Well

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST

John 4

The Samaritan woman at the well is an interesting companion for this conversation with Jesus. She is blunt, she changes subjects, Jesus changes subjects, yet He always steers the discussion to the issues He wants her to grapple with. Content-wise, He shows His offer of living water (i.e. eternal life), then her need of this water (because of her messed up, sinful life) and finally brings her to purpose for humanity (to enter a friendship with God in worship based upon both spirit and truth.

Achieving Gods Dreams

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST

Psalm 37:1-9, 23-28

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. And since He created us to do good in this world for His sake, we need to come to our great God and ask a simple statement: here I am, send me. What can I do for God this year? What dreams, hopes, plans does He have for me that I can carry out for Him?

What Did You Get Jesus for Christmas?

Sun, 24 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST

Matthew 2:1-12

The wisemen gave their treasure, the shepherds gave their time, the parents gave their dignity, the cows gave their supper. But what did you get Jesus for Christmas? There is an ancient poem that goes What can I give Him as poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, Id give Him a lamb. If I were a wiseman, Id do my part. What can I give Him? Ill give Him my heart.

The Prophecy of Zecharias

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST

Luke 1:60-78

Zecharias is the father of John the Baptist. According to Luke, he was a major player in the larger Christmas event. Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent six months at his house during her pregnancy. When John was born, Zecharias proclaimed a prophecy about the future ministries of Jesus and John and their inter-connectedness in Old Testament prophecies.

Malachi the Prophet

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST

Malachi 3:1-3, 4:1-6

Malachi prophesies the coming Messiah and prepares the people of God to receive Him. He illustrates the desire God has to be with His people and the necessity to refine their character in preparation for receiving Him.

Rich Young Ruler

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST

Mark 10:17-30

This conversation is between Jesus and a rich young man who wnated to know how to inherit eternal life. This is the most important question in the universe. The answer is unexpected and unsatisfying to this man.

Haggai the Prophet

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST

Haggai 2:1-9

Haggai reminds the restored nation of Israel that sin, punishment, repentance, and restoration do not make people junk to God. When God restores repentant sinners, He brings them back to full fellowship with Him. The symbol of this principle is the Temple that Ezra, Zerubbabel, and Haggai helped to rebuild after exile in Babylon.

Nicodemus and Jesus

Sun, 9 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST

John 2:23-3:22

Nicodemus is a religious leader. He likes a lot of what Jesus is saying but he is also confused by a lot of what Jesus is saying. So he met Jesus by night to go over His message.

Habakkuk the Prophet

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 11:00:00 EST

Habakkuk 1

While Jeremiah questioned God in a positive way, Habakkuk questioned God with his fist raised up at heaven. Why are You doing this to us? Why are You using wicked people to judge our little sin? Why? Why? Why? Maybe you have asked God why with little or no faith. Lets talk about Why God?

Jeremiah the Prophet

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:00:00 EST

Lamentations 1:1-4, 3:1-3, 3:16-27, 3:31-33

Jeremiah the weaping prophet isnt afraid to bear his soul and feelings to God. God is pictured as a just discipling but loving and restoring Father. Lets dig in to Jeremiah and Lamentations.

Hosea the Prophet

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 11:00:00 EST

Hosea 1, 3

Hosea had a nitch ministry. God called him to marry a prostitute. And when that woman had an itch, God called him to chase after her and welcome her back time after time. Why? To exemplify what God goes through with His faithless people. The question becomes for us: how faithful are we to our great God?

Jonah the Prophet

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EST

Jonah 1

Jonah: was he a hero, a villain, or something in between? In this message, we look at the life and times of Jonah to discover the motives that drove his decisions. We uncover a glimpse of God and His great plan of redemption for the world.

Closing Reminders

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 16

Paul wraps up his first letter to the Church at Corinth with four reminders. He reminds them to give, to pray for his travels, to respect their leaders, and to be empowered by the core of the faith (fellowship, love for Christ, expect His return, and filled with His grace).

The Reality of the Resurrection

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 15:1-6, 12-17, 20-26, 50-58

We have gone over this text mnay times on Easter. Now all we want to do is by way of reminder, encourage each other with the hope we have because Jesus rose we will too.

Using Your Gift to Its Full Potential, Parts 2-3

Sun, 7 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 14:20-40

Were picking up where we left off with using our gifts to the fullest potential. Lets dig in to the Word of God together!

Using Your Gift to Its Full Potential, Part 1

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 14

Yes, all christians have spiritual gifts. Now what? How can we be our best at that gift? How can we be used of God in the most effective way? Lets look at the answer together!

How to Use the Gifts of the Spirit

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 13

What motivation should be the one to drive us to minister? Love. Love for God love for others. Any other motivation will reap no reward. It is the motive of love which makes us like God, who in love went to the cross for our souls.

What Are the Gifts?

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30

Lets look at the spiritual gifts together. The major texts in the NT are 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4.

Order in Ministering Together

Sun, 9 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 12

People have a problem being different.. ever notice that? In the Church, it is often difficult dealing with people with different passions, interests, ministries, abilities, and even outlooks on life. How can we embrace the comlexity of the household of God? By looking at the Church through Gods eyes. it is He who made us so very different as an expression of His creativity and complex will.

Order at the Lords Supper

Sun, 2 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Paul gives Gods counsel for order at the communion table. Divisions within the church = not real communion.

Roles of Men and Women

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 11:1-16

The culture and the Church have terribly redefined the roles of men and women. In this message, we look at the roles God wants for husbands and wives within the worship gathering and church gatherings in general.

Idols are Nothing

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 10:16-33

In our last study of Christian Liberty, Paul concludes warning of the dangers of taking liberty beyond proper use and reminding us of the responsibility within our liberty.

Flee Idolatry

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 10:1-15

Paul turns his attention from the freedom we have in our decision making to the dangers of THE LINE. We all know the line... that line between sin and holy. Legalists always move that line beyond the Scriptures and Paul doesnt want that for us, but he also recognizes that when we dance on that line, we can easily fall over. Let us be quick to flee idolatry.

All You Can

Sun, 5 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 9:19-27

The central message of Christian liberty is this passage. Essentially, God asks us to choose: live your life fulfilling all your desires or surrender your time and resources... your liberty for the benefit of others in your life. Christ is the prime example of this lifestyle of surrender. Paul follows in those footsteps. Your pastors and elders do there best to practice a Christ-like lifestyle. Where are you on the pursuit of happiness?

Pastor: Example of Liberty

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 9:1-19

Paul illustrates his concept of Christian liberty with a real-life example: his life. Despite his freedom to do many things with his life, he surrendered those freedoms in order to use his time and resources for the benefit of others around him. He is not saying the pastor must surrender all rights, but rather, he is saying that he is setting an example for all Christians to follow his lifestyle.

Living in the World

Sun, 22 Jul 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 8

It is so easy to invent a religion that appears to avoid sin, but genuine Christianity has very little rules. What Jesus teaches instead of rules is principles that help us to make wise decisions regarding the opportunities we have in life. In the church of Corinth, Paul teaches on eating meat offered to idols. Instead of making rules, he teaches the disciples to live free and act responsibly.

The Disciples

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 11:00:00 EST

John 1:35-46

Jesus had twelve disciples. Some we know a lot about. Some we know little about. Some we know nothing about. Philip was one disciple that we know little about, but the encounters he had with Jesus in the gospel of John were extremely interesting and probably a lot like the encounters we have had with Him.

Great Faith

Sun, 8 Jul 2007 11:00:00 EST

Luke 7:1-10

We should have Great Faith in the One that has the authority.

America: Land of Liberty

Sun, 1 Jul 2007 11:00:00 EST

Isaiah 33:17-24

America was founded on the principles of liberty and just treatment of all citizens. These are not philosophical concepts, on the contrary, they originate from the heart of God as communicated in the Holy Scriptures. Let us examine the statments and actions of our founding fathers and see how they viewed our God.

Gods Diverse Callings

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 7:10-40

In the display of Gods manifest glory, He has called us all into different positions with different lifestyles. Some of us are single, others are married, others are widows. Some of us are freed, others are slaves. We are all different but were saved by the same blood of Jesus. Today, we talk about living inside that calling.

The Body is Holy, pt 2

Sun, 17 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 7:1-9

Last week was all about sex outside of marriage. We now want to discuss Gods principles for sex inside marriage. Sexual intimacy is a beautiful gift designed by God to be part of the overall intimacy of a married couple. It truly is a avenue to the heart of your spouse.

The Body is Holy, pt 1

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 6:12-7:9

This section continues Pauls theme of Christian holiness. How should we act with our bodies? How and when is sexual intimacy appropriate and inappropriate? God has great guidance for us in His Word.

Going to Law

Sun, 3 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Christians are called by God into a fellowship with Him and with each other. Yet too often, they quickly do all they can to tear down the friendship with other believers that God desires for all of us to share. One way we can disrupt the fellowship and defame God is by going to secular court against one another.

Remove Wickedness

Sun, 27 May 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 5

Any church that has been around a while will encounter the need to discipline a believer. We are all in a spiritual struggle to fight temptation and become like Christ. Sometimes we fail and when we do, it is incombant upon us to make things right with the LORD and with those we have hurt. When we fail to show contrition and repentance, we need the Church to teach us to be teachable and soft hearted with our iniquities. Otherwise we will increasingly become stubborn and hard hearted.

Follow Your Leaders, pt2

Sun, 20 May 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 4

Last week we looked at those who follow their leaders so much that they divide over leaders. Too many christians break into sects and divide Gods Church. Well today we look at the other extreme: not following our leaders. God has given us these men to follow and imitate. We miss out on His blessings when we do not follow our leaders.

Follow Your Leaders, pt1

Sun, 13 May 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 3

There was a real problem facing the church in Corinth. Christians were breaking into sects within the congregation and breaking the fellowship apart. With the proliferation of authors, speakers, radio, television, and now podcasting: todays church has the potential for the same sin. Lets NOT follow our leaders.

Christians are Fools

Sun, 6 May 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 1:10-2:16

The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing.

Rich Prayer

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

The church at Corinth Prayed for others

Corinth: A Bombastic Church

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST

Acts 18:1-18

To begin our study of Paul's First Letter to Corinth, we look at the origins of the church in the book of Acts. We look at some of the problems facing the congregaton from outside and from inside.

A Confused Follower

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST

John 20:19-31

Thomas is one of the well-known of Jesus followers. What do we know him for? For doubting... doubting the resurrection of Jesus, doubting unless he saw for himself. Thomas gets a bad reputation, but if we are honest, we lack faith many times. We are not ready for God to do remarkable things many times. We are confused about what He brings our way many times. Lets talk about doubt and faith.

A Successful Redeemer

Sun, 8 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 15:33-58

Easter illustrates the success of Jesus. All of what He said, all of the wonderful things that He did, and culminating in His work of taking our sins on His cross: it is all for nothing if death gained the victory over Him. How can we anticipate a new eternal life if He had one life? Lets look at the success of our Redeemer!

A Mixed Reception

Sun, 1 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST

John 12:12-43

Jesus had a powerful and clear teaching. Although He spoke clearly, those who heard Him responded in a wide variety of ways. Lets look at the mixed reception of Jesus today on this Palm Sunday.

Jesus Clear Message

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST

John 8:23-58

Leading up to Easter, we will look at the earthly ministry of Jesus: His teaching, the reaction, His death and resurrection. What was His message? Jesus was crystal-clear on who He was and what Heis mission was. Everyone in His day understood what He was saying, but too often in today's world, people just think He was a nice teacher of proverbial wisdom. His message was: I am God, I can remove your sins, you are hopelessly lost without Me. Not very diplomatic or tolerant, but after all, He is God so He can say whatever He wants.

Ready, Willing, and Able

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST

Colossians 4:2-6

Concluding our study of character, we look at having a heart that is ready, willing, and able to do what He asks. There are plenty of Christians around who have no interest in doing what God wants. Many are willing, but do not know how to carry out their mission from God. Where are you in this spectrum? We look today at being anxious and quick to fulfill our God-given tasks.

Peace and Quiet

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Timothy 2:1-7

There is something about Christians that makes them want to be fiesty and downright mean. Why, when God is so concerned about making peace with us? The Good News really is GOOD: we hated God and wanted nothing but to rebel against Him, while He still loves us and demonstrates that love thru the death of His only Son for our sins. In fact, His mission throughout history has been to make peace with mankind. It is because of His hunger for peace, that He invites us to be people of peace and quiet.

Forgive and Forget

Sun, 4 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 18:21-35

Did you ever have someone do something to you that affected you in a terrible way? We all have had the sins of others injure us. Maybe a gossiping neighbor, a rebellious child, a mean boss, or an unfaithful spouse. It is inevitable that others will hurt you... the question becomes: how do I react to the behavior of others? Do I let it go, do I take revenge, do I isolate myself, do I carry hate in my heart, or do I take it to the LORD and forgive? Lets talk about forgiveness together.

Be a Steward of Gods Body

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Now you're telling me that God cares about how I treat my body? Yes! Everything we have has been given to us by God to treat wisely. What does God say about how we treat our body? Let's look together.

Be a Steward of Gods Money

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

You mean God cares about how we use our money? The Bible says that the earth is the Lord's and everything in it (Ps 24:1). If everything that exists belongs to God then the things that I have belong to Him. All we have is a gift from God and we have the responsibility to use it wisely. Today we talk about all things money and what the Bible says about how to use money God's way.

Be a Steward of Gods People

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST

Luke 10:25-39

Responsibility... What is that? In this culture, we don't think too much about our responsibilities towards others. But God has entrusted His people to our care and keeping. In this message, we examine the various relationships we have and the responsibilities we have to God for those people.

Be a Steward of Gods Time

Sun, 4 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST

Ephesians 5:1-18

We are learning all this month about the character of a steward. To be a steward is to recognize in your heart that God owns every gift that He has entrusted to you and as a result, you live in a way consistent with His ownership of your resources. We begin today with being a steward of Gods time.

Lessons by the Seaside

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 11:00:00 EST

John 21:1-11

Dana Weller, director of the BFC Board of Missions, shares a message on the lessons the disciples needed to learn before they received the great commission.

Truth

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 11:00:00 EST

Psalm 15

Have you ever been lied to? How does it feel? Not to good, and its because deep inside, we all cherish the truth. We have been created by a God who loves the truth as well. Today we look at a Psalm that highly esteems truth in deed and speech. So how honest are you?

What Excites Your Heart

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 11:00:00 EST

Psalm 1

What do you delight in? So often we delight entirely in the things of the world, which often arent wrong to delight in. However, we neglect to delight at all in God and His ways. So as a follower of Jesus, do you delight at all in Him? Lets talk about what excites our hearts.

Integrity

Sun, 7 Jan 2007 11:00:00 EST

Psalm 26

Integrity is the force inside you that drives you to be consistent and better. Psalm 26 has a lot to say about integrity. Lets look at it together.

Youre a Real Character

Sun, 31 Dec 2006 11:00:00 EST

Luke 6:39-45

Today we begin a new series on building character. What kind of person does God want us to be? How can we change our character this year? In this message, we see the need and the difficulty of embarking on this change. Changing the person we are begins not with behaviors, but with the heart.

A Miracle for the Ages

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 11:00:00 EST

Luke 1:26-40

The birth of Jesus was a great miracle, but what is more spectacular was the conception of this God-man. How did it happen and why did it happen?

Love and Truth: Part Two

Sun, 17 Dec 2006 11:00:00 EST

2-3 John

Love is a nice word and a good feeling, but how can it be real? In todays message, we consider true love in this second message of two parts.

Love and Truth: Part One

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 11:00:00 EST

2-3 John

Truth is a definite thing. In a culture that says your truth is good for you and my truth is good for me, we need to come to Scripture, read it, and say that there is one set of facts and anything contrary to that set is false. In these two books, we discover that truth is from God, truth is a lifestyle, and truth is Jesus Christ.

Glory, Greeting, and Grace

Sun, 3 Dec 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 4:20-23

We're wrapping up our study of this letter and the last four verses of any letter are often ignored as routine, but they have some interesting insight for us. Let's examine the Glory of God, Greeting fellow brothers in Christ, and the Grace of Jesus.

Godly Contentment

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 4:10-19

Con-WHAT?!?! We don't often hear the word contentment in this culture. Today, we talk about a deeply satisfying and fulfilling virtue called contentment. To be content means to be happy no matter the circumstance. As Christians, we have God and He has set us free from the condemnation we deserved. So regardless of our changing situations, His eternal peace should satify all our deepest longings. Let's talk about being content together!

God of Peace

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 4:2-9

God is always with us, but often the peace He offers is not on us because of our choosing not to embrace it. In three areas of life, Paul teaches us to embrace God's peace. In our friendships, attitudes, and thoughts we must let God's peace richly dwell in us.

Longing for the Future

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Did you ever wonder what heaven will be like? I am sure that you have. In today's passage, we listen to Paul discuss our future. We are citizens of heaven and one day, our Savior will come from there to bring us home. At that time, He will trasnform our bodies to be patterned after His. What a great day that will be!

Focused on Growth

Sun, 29 Oct 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 3:9-16

Many Christians believe that getting saved is then end-all-be-all of the Christian life. However, being born again is just like being born naturally. It is the beginning of a new life... a life filled with growth. All to often, even though we agree with this in theory, we live a life that is unfocused... a life that is too busy to expend enegry in spiritual development. Let's focus on growth!

Laying Self Aside

Sun, 22 Oct 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 3:1-11

God wants us to be filled with the Spirit. So naturally, we need to empty ourselves of our old self. In today's message, we see how Paul laid his old way of life to the side so that he could know Christ and be found in Him. Where do you want to be? In Him or in your own way?

Real Lives

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 2:17-30

Oddly, right after talking about the core of Christian belief, Paul moves into sharing his travel plans. As we discover today, Paul is not merely sharing his travel plans, but IS illustrating examples of other-first attitudes in action. Join us as we look at the real lives of real people.

Work Out Your Salvation

Sun, 8 Oct 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 2:12-16

What does it mean to work out your salvation? Should we be working FOR our salvation. God shows us here that we really need to be focused on exercising the spiritual muscles that we have and as we do, we begin to realize that He is the one who is working in us and through us. Interestingly, the first way in which we exercise our faith is by doing all we do without grumbling and complaining. Let's dig into this passage together!

Empty Yourself of Yourself

Sun, 1 Oct 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 2:1-11

Paul has been hinting at humility or selflessness for a bit here, but today, he unpacks the concept in a clear, extensive manner. What does it look like to be selfless? What is the end result of being humble?

Living Beyond Today

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 1:19-30

Paul, here, talks about his desire to be in heaven with Christ. He tells his friends that he would rather be there, but for their sakes he would do all he could to stay here on earth. What attitudes do you have for other believers? Does there faith and their maturity in Christ enter your mind? Too often we embrace the concept of the personal relationship with Jesus to the extent that we are not concerned about our brother's faith and lifestyle.

Ministry Motivations

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 1:12-18

It is hard to imagine that people do the right thing for bad reasons. But we see it all too often in the Church today. In today's passage, we see that Paul does not mind if bad motives move people to preach the good news. In fact, they are better than those with good motives who never open their mouthes. What motivates us and what actions do those motives produce?

This Is My Prayer

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 1:1-11

What motivates us to pray? What should we pray for? Whom should we pray for? All these questions and the general topic of prayer is discussed in Paul's opening to his letter to the Philippians.

Tremendously Humble, Immensely Joyful

Sun, 3 Sep 2006 11:00:00 EST

Philippians 1:18-26

To be humble and joyful is to be like Christ. As we introduce Philippians, we look today at the two major themes of this letter from Paul to the church in Philippi. We look at the reason for the letter as well as who the people in the book are.

Good Rest

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 11:00:00 EST

Hebrews 3-4

We love vacations and days off because we know rest is important to our bodies and souls. But is this the kind of rest that God is talking about in these chapters of Hebrews? What is the rest that God offers is? Is it worth partaking in? How do we receive it? All of this and more is addressed in this message.

The Christian, Law, and Grace

Sun, 20 Aug 2006 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 10:14-33

Is our faith a list of do-s and dont-s which we are bound to follow or is it a freeing force in our lives enabling us to do good in any circumstance? In Acts 15 and 1 Corinthians 10, Paul and the apostles make it clear that we are not bound by the Old Testament law but rather free to do anything we want so long as it draws us and others closer to God.

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 11:00:00 EST

Mark 2:14-22

Jesus is known in the abstract as a friend of sinners. But how far does He really go to illustrate that point? How low does He stoop to befriend lowly "sinners" that no one else will associate with? That being said, are there sinners AND good folk? and why do good folk not hang out with sinners? All this is addressed in "Jesus, Friend of Sinners."

The End of Days

Sun, 6 Aug 2006 11:00:00 EST

Daniel 9-12

Daniel isn't just a story about the lion's den. At the end of the book, God reveals what will happen throughout the rest of Israel's history. What's in store in future days?

Why the Word?

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 11:00:00 EST

Jeremiah 36

Guest speaker, Ray Bertolet, brings the Word from Jeremiah this morning. Ray is a church planter for the BFC in Millsboro, Delaware.

God: Our Protector

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 11:00:00 EST

Isaiah 26

Isaiah, amidst promising God's judgement on wicked nations, also promises that God will see His righteous followers through times of trouble and supernaturally protect them. What can we today learn from this passage? Let's discover together.

Praise Him All Ways

Sun, 16 Jul 2006 11:00:00 EST

Psalms 102

We look at four Psalms with four distinct styles. There are public Psalms and private Psalms. There are praise Psalms and lament Psalms. And so we see that we should worship alone and with others and we should praise God in good times and bad times. Let's praise God in all ways.

Through the Valley

Sun, 9 Jul 2006 11:00:00 EST

Job 1-2

Its easy to praise God in the good times, but what about when life is tough? Today we look at a great example of godly perserverance in the man Job. We will look at four characters who play a role in our difficult times and what we can learn from each.

Starting Over

Sun, 2 Jul 2006 11:00:00 EST

1 Chronicles 9:1-13

The Nation of Judah made a grave error... they exchanged their God for the momentary thrill of sin. God, in His patient discipline, sent them to a far off country in exile only to return two generations later having grown a little more quick to listen and follow Him. There are times in our lives where we need to pick up the broken pieces of life and have another go at it with God in control.

A Man After Gods Heart

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 11:00:00 EST

1 Samuel 13:1-14

Great, I get it, a man after God's heart... we always hear that phrase. But what does it mean to be fashioned by God to have a heart like His? Three character traits of godly David and lacking traits of godless Saul are Humility, Contrition, and Values. We look at these together in this message.

A New Heart

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 11:00:00 EST

Deuteronomy 30:1-10

We are so prone to wander from God. What can keep us close to Him? Today we look at God's promise to punish and restore His people, Israel. We look at some of the promises He made to the nation and ask what can apply to us.

Serious Worship

Sun, 11 Jun 2006 11:00:00 EST

Leviticus 10

God is serious about re-establishing friendship with humanity. This last week in the Bible in 90 Days, we saw God create man in His image and begin a relationship with humanity. Once, we severed our ties with Him, God began to slowly work to reunite His rebellious creation to Himself. Today we see how serious He takes our worship time and we call ourselves to take this time seriously.

Created for His Glory

Sun, 4 Jun 2006 11:00:00 EST

Genesis 1-2

In the beginning, God created... but why? What motivated Him to create the universe? What was His goal? How does humanity fit into His goal. Everything He did is for His own glory. Today we investigate the beginning.

Why Read the Bible?

Sun, 28 May 2006 11:00:00 EST

Isaiah 55:1-13

In preparation for reading the Bible in 90 days, beginning next Sunday, we are going to ask the question: Why should we read the Bible? As we begin to answer this, we will engage a powerful truth: God wants to accomplish great things in our lives as He transforms us into the character of our Lord Jesus.

Seeking the Truth

Sun, 21 May 2006 11:00:00 EST

2 Peter 3:13-18

With the release of The DaVinci Code to theaters, many people are asking if its view of Christianity is right. Was Jesus God or did the Church invent that? Was He married, did the Church hide that? Can we really rely on the Bible? Discover the truth with us!

Embracing Lady Wisdom

Sun, 14 May 2006 11:00:00 EST

Proverbs 31:10-31

So many Christian women struggle with the anxiety of living up to Proverbs 31. But is this passage talking about the ideal wife or something entirely different? Today, we consider the implications of this text being about Lady Wisdom.

The Opportunity to Make Disciples

Sun, 7 May 2006 11:00:00 EST

Romans 10:4-17

Today we look at the importance of being a witness. We are all called preachers in the Bible. How will they believe unless they hear and how will they hear without a messenger? Let's get out there and tell the great story!

Being and Making Disciples

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 28:16-20

In our concluding message on the Gospel, we examine the Great Commission which Jesus makes to all His followers. Are you being a great disciple? Are you making disciples for Him?

Moving Past Failure

Sun, 23 Apr 2006 11:00:00 EST

John 21:1-19

It tends to be that Christians fail to grow because they fail to put the past behind. Today we see how Jesus ministers to Peter and the disciples after their denial and hiding during His crucifixion. We will see how to move beyond the guilt of past and present failure in order to press ahead into future ministry.

The Ongoing Result of the Resurrection

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 11:00:00 EST

1 Corinthians 15:20-34

It is awesome that Jesus rose from the dead! But what does it change? How does it affect our living? Today, we look at the ongoing result of His resurrection.

Forgiven

Sun, 2 Apr 2006 11:00:00 EST

Luke 7:36-50

What is forgiveness all about? And how can this man, Jesus, forgive the sins of people? In this message, we address the issue of our sins being wiped clean.

Believe and Come

Sun, 26 Mar 2006 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 11:16-30

We all want a good life, but so many of us make excuses for not attaining it. The only way to have a good life is to be rooted in Christ. Today we look at Jesus' offer of Himself to the multitudes. What can He offer us?

Its Like This

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 11:00:00 EST

Luke 6:46-49, Luke 12:16-21, Luke 14:28-35

Jesus told many parables, which are earthly stories that teach a spiritual meaning. Today we get a taste of the parables with three vignettes from Luke's Gospel. Each is about life: the foundation, priorities, and commitment in life.

Great Leftovers

Sun, 12 Mar 2006 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 14:15-16:12

Jesus feeds 5000 and then 4000 and in between is a beautiful illustration of Jesus care for the nations. At that time, we were separate from God and Jesus in this section of His earthly ministry opens the door to Gentile-inclusion into His kingdom.

The Condition of Mans Heart

Sun, 5 Mar 2006 11:00:00 EST

Mark 7:1-23

Today's is one of those messages that we don't like to hear... but one that we need to hear. Jesus teaches here that the human heart is what is wrong with the human race. We don't sin due to accident, environment, the devil... we sin because our heart loves to disobey. Jesus exposes us to the truth of our depravity and welcomes us to embrace the loving grace of God.

The Heart of Ethics

Sun, 19 Feb 2006 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 5:17-48

In the Law of Moses, God is primarily concerned with the heart of man. In Jesus' message to the people, He shows that obedience is not merely a outward behavior, but the desire of the heart... anger = murder, lust = adultery... God is concerned with motivations and yearnings, not behavior. How can we be perfect just as our Father in Heaven is perfect? We talk about this in this sermon.

Blessings, Finally

Sun, 5 Feb 2006 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 5:1-16

In the introduction to Jesus' sermon on the mount, He blesses His disciples. Comparing this sermon of only blessing with the Old Testament sermon of blessing and cursing is fascinating. Both on mountains, but the content is so different. With Jesus, blessing is unconditional and is the only thing on the menu. If you are asking, how can I live a life showered with God's favor? This is the message for you!

How Jesus Made Disciples

Sun, 29 Jan 2006 11:00:00 EST

Mark 3:13-20

Jesus has sent us to make disciples of all nations. On our mission, it is helpful to learn how He made disciples. He didn't just call them and they came... rather, He had a time-consuming method that respected their freedom and ignited their curiosity and ultimately, their passion. Let's learn to make disciples!

Tempted In All Ways

Sun, 22 Jan 2006 11:00:00 EST

Luke 4:1-15

Jesus, being led by the Spirit through the temptation of the devil, resists by using the Word of God as His battle-gear. In this message, we learn how to fight temptation and how we can become victorious over our enemy, Satan.

Peter: a Like Us Hero

Sun, 15 Jan 2006 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 16:13-28

Pastor Dotts, a retired pastor from our church brings the Word this morning, reminding us of Peter, a real example for followers of Jesus.

Out of Egypt

Sun, 8 Jan 2006 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 2:12-23

God has an enormous plan being worked out in the life of His Son Jesus. Now His enemies attempt to foil His plan and God does protect His Son. We too are in God's hand at all times. He has plans for us and will stop at nothing to make those plans come about. What will we do to fulfill His plans for us?

An Insightful Visit

Sun, 1 Jan 2006 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 2:1-12

We've all heard the story of the wisemen and the traveling star. Who were these men... how many were there? What kind of star travels? What can we learn for our walk of faith from this story?

The Lineage of the King

Sun, 18 Dec 2005 11:00:00 EST

Matthew 1:1-17

Why is the genealogy of Jesus recorded in the Gospels? Why does Matthew refer to five women in his record? Why is Jesus the son of David, the son of Abraham? Why are there three sets of fourteen generations? Why is this thing here? In this message, we investigate the story of Jesus' lineage.

The Fullness of Times

Sun, 4 Dec 2005 11:00:00 EST

Daniel 9:20-27

Does the Bible prophesy the year that the Messiah would come? And did Jesus meet that prophecy? Answer to both: YES!

What is Evangelicalism?

Sun, 20 Nov 2005 11:00:00 EST

Psalm 119:89-112

The term 'evangelical' is used quite often in society, often in a derogatory way. What does it mean that a person or a church is evangelical. In this message, we address the issue.

A Foretaste of Heaven

Sun, 31 Jul 2005 11:00:00 EST

Revelation 21:1-22:5

What do we look forward to in eternity? In this message, we reflect on John's vision of our final destination and we ponder the immensity of God's love for all the nations.