This podcasts consists of messages from our pastors, Sunday school lessons, and other special events that take place during our weekly services.
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I have found Luke 16:1-15 to be a puzzling passage. So, a few years ago I decided to look into it and clarify in my understanding of what Jesus was saying. As I looked for knowledge from those who have more than I do, I can't say I was surprised to discover differences of opinion. I have no doubt that my own view may become clearer as I continue to study His words, but meanwhile I will share with you what I do see, and give you some guidelines that will help you when you encounter your own enigmas as you seek to understand God's word.
In a culture obsessed with true crime, scandal, and the sensational, our minds are constantly bombarded with the dark, twisted, and destructive. We're fascinated by evil, and it shows. Just have a look at any entertainment platform you choose, excepting those that cater to audiences who would prefer not to see it. But what should occupy the mind of a Christian? In this message from Philippians 4:8-9, we examine Paul's final instructions to the church at Philippi—a congregation he founded roughly a decade earlier and deeply loved. Writing from prison in Rome, Paul doesn't just tell believers wh
What does it mean to be created in the image of God?
We all know the frustration of prayers that seem to hit the ceiling. When we ask for healing, for provision, for justice, and the answer appears to be silence, it is easy to grow weary and stop asking altogether. But Jesus tells us in Luke 18 that this is exactly when we must not lose heart. In this message, we look at the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. Jesus contrasts a corrupt, self-serving judge who finally grants justice just to stop being bothered, with our heavenly Father who is the only truly just judge. The point is not that God is reluctant and we have to wear H
Supernatural healing can be a touchy subject. Some don't believe God does it anymore. Others think that anyone who is sick must have either unconfessed sin or a lack of faith. The truth is at neither extreme. This week we will have another look at one of those passages that seems to indicate a clear path to healing. We need some context here, so we will consider James 5:13-20.
We have come to the end of our exploration of Paul's letter to the believers in Rome. In these last few verses, he offers a few more words of wisdom, then finishes with an expression of worship that also summarizes much of what he has written. We will cover Romans 16:17-27 except for verses 21-24, which we went through last week as we explored all the people whom Paul mentioned in his lengthy exchange of greetings.
In the last episode, we considered how seemingly trivial details in a letter written over two thousand years ago still have something to teach us. We found clues that help us fit the letter into its historical context, saw how Paul put into practice the things he taught, and saw by connecting Paul's letter to the events in Acts how God's plans can replace our own to accomplish His higher purposes. In Romans Chapter 16 we find more text that we might be tempted just to look past. Of what benefit could greetings to and from all these people be to us? We can identify a few of them from other plac
In this age of technology, we aren't writing many actual letters. Some of us even find them to be a nuisance. I have often joked that I plan to put a paper shredder in place of my mail box and save myself a step. But a letter can be a thing of great value. Much of what we know of our nation's history comes from the letters written by the people who made that history. They reveal the personality and motivations of the people who wrote them, giving us insight beyond that which would be provided by official records. It is from their letters that we learn the deep Christian convictions of many of
Drawing from Romans 15:7-13, Pastor Larry unpacks Paul’s powerful call: “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” Through this passage, we see Christ as the servant who fulfilled God’s promises to Israel and extended mercy to the Gentiles, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies that all nations would praise the Lord and find hope in Him. You’ll discover: How Jesus bridges every divide—Jew and Gentile, and every barrier we face today. The true meaning of welcoming others as Christ welcomed us. The source of abounding hope, joy, and peace in the Holy Spir
One survey has identified as many as 50,000 distinct Christian groups who in some way distinguish themselves from others. This number is disheartening to those who feel that we should all be one. That is after all what Jesus Himself prayed (John 17:11.) That particular study named even small congregations of people, and accepted their self-identification as Christian, so the number of groups with significantly divergent theology is probably only in the hundreds. But isn't two to many? Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 11:18-19 that divisions will exist, differentiating faithful from the fake. H
