My Heart is Steadfast (Ps 108:1-13)

This unique psalm combines the positive endings of Ps 57 and Ps 60 to give us a new psalm divorced from the circumstances that began those two psalms so that we have a psalm of faith for launching into any venture for the Lord. We trust in our great God in spite of our own failure and weakness and trust in Him to help us through to the end.

July 11, 2010

Do you know you died to sin? (Rm 6:3-4)

The foundation of sanctification is the doctrine of Christ acting as your representative so that we died to sin with him on the cross. Understanding the identification of ourselves with Christ in baptism helps us to understand not only that we died with Christ but also that we are raised with him so that we might experience the newness of resurrection life right now.

The Christian in the World (4)

Having defined the terms ‘godliness’, ‘worldly’, and ‘worldliness’, we now go on a survey that looks at what the Bible says about the Christian’s relationship to the world.

A Bishop kept from the Devil (1 Tim 3:6-7)

We conclude our look at the pastor’s qualifications by discussing the last two on the list. In each of these there is a special danger of being affected by the devil. The church and pastor must be on guard that these traps can be avoided and the ministry in the local church may be pursued according to God’s will.

July 14, 2010

O God do not be Silent (Ps 109:1-31)

This psalm is one of the most bracing of the imprecatory psalms. In fact, it almost offends our Christian conscience. However, if we understand its prophetic significance, we come to realize that it reveals God’s heart towards the traitor Judas who threw away his birthright, so to speak, for thirty pieces of silver. The psalm displays the proper attitude of the Lord’s Anointed against the spirit of Antichrist that motivated Judas and will fill the man of sin in the last days.

July 18, 2010

Baptism is for Believers (Rm 6:3-4)

Baptism is the illustration Paul uses to help us understand the foundation of our sanctification, our identification with Christ in his death. As such, we can learn something of the requirements for proper Christian baptism: immersion in water as an initiatory rite for people who have consciously believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as saviour from sin.

Godliness Revisited (1 Tim 6:3-11)

We look at a passage (1 Tim 6.3-11) that clarifies the meaning of godliness as emphasizing a visible external kind of way of life. Such a life can be counterfeited to a point, but the devoted disciple is committed to a pursuit of godliness, with contentment, from the heart.

Deacons Likewise (1 Tim 3:8-10)

Today we consider the basic qualities required of deacons and challenge our peolpe to be in pursuit of these qualities in their own spiritual lives.

July 21, 2010

The Oracle to My Lord (1) (Ps 110:1-3)

Psalm 110 provides the foundation for much of the doctrine of Christ in the New Testament. It is the most quoted psalm by the NT. As we look at its first three verses, we see the tremendous truths of our Lord as the exalted King, waiting at the right hand of God until the time appointed when all his people will rise as one man behind him and attend his glorious return to the earth.

July 25, 2010

The Power in the Resurrection (Rm 6:4)

We look at one phrase in Rm 6.4 in this message, ‘raised … through the glory of the Father’. We find that just as Christ was raised by the Father’s glory, so to are we raised in our new spiritual lives to the newness of life found in Christ. By God’s glory we are indeed made able to live the Christian life. It is important for us to know this in order to have the victorious Christian life we desire.

Set Your Affections Above (Col 2:20-3:17)

We are getting to the end of our study and are wanting to direct our minds away from worldliness to a true godliness from the heart. In doing so we are looking at Col 2.20-3.17. The passage first of all addresses the idea that trying to achieve godliness by rigorous external religious practices, we will fail to deal with the heart issues. That kind of religion is a kind of worldliness because it is exactly the same as the practices of pagans which has a show of wisdom, but is of no value in overcoming the flesh.

The Women must be Likewise (1 Tim 3:11)

In this message we look at a verse that is somewhat controversial in today’s society and is also somewhat ambiguous and hard to interpret. The question is whether Paul is addressing the wives of deacons or the office of deaconess. Or is something else in view? We attempt an answer and insist that there is no third office of deaconess in the church. We also point to the need for women in spiritual leadership in the church to be spiritually minded people from the qualifications given in this list.

May 5, 2010

Israel (part 2)

One of our deacons, Robert Perry, fills in for our pastor with a talk discussing the history of Israel and its place in the Bible.

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Retired pastor Tom Nieman fills in for our pastor during an absence in May 2010. The theme of pastor Nieman’s messages is our Great God. We trust these messages will be a blessing to you.

May 9, 2010

The Veracity and Faithfulness of God

The Image of God

God Above All Gods

May 12, 2010

Teach us to Pray

May 16, 2010

We Need a Sovereign God

God Discloses Himself

The Love of God

Today we take a broad survey of the entire 6th chapter of Romans. In this chapter, Paul gives us insight into the inner workings of sanctifying faith, the spiritual activity the soul engages in when winning victory over sin.

The Christian in the World (3)

Having defined the terms ‘godliness’, ‘worldly’, and ‘worldliness’, we now go on a survey that looks at what the Bible says about the Christian’s relationship to the world.

The Necessity of Divisions in the Assembly (1 Cor 11:17-19)

Today we begin a series for communion on Paul’s teaching in 1 Cor 11 about communion. He addresses the subject because of divisions within the Corinthian church in the practice of communion. His correction of this error brings to light a revelation concerning the necessity of divisions in the church and the incredible importance God puts on unity in the local assembly.

Paul is now transitioning from the doctrine of justification to a salvation-by-faith oriented understanding of the doctrine of sanctification. He begins by posing a question which exemplifies a misunderstanding (deliberate or by ignorance) of the doctine of justification: should we sin that grace might abound?

The Christian in the World (2)

Having defined the terms ‘godliness’, ‘worldly’, and ‘worldliness’, we now go on a survey that looks at what the Bible says about the Christian’s relationship to the world.

A Bishop’s Household (1 Tim 3:4-5)

We focus on just one qualification for a bishop in this message, the qualification that his household must be in order. The Bible ties the pastor’s management of the church with his management of his household. As such, God puts the children of the pastor in the "fishbowl" and makes their response to their father’s leadership a test of his church management ability.

The Law not only magnifies the effect of sin, it brings about a magnification of the immense treasure of grace that is available to sinners in and through Jesus Christ.

The Christian in the World (1)

Having defined the terms ‘godliness’, ‘worldly’, and ‘worldliness’, we now go on a survey that looks at what the Bible says about the Christian’s relationship to the world.

A Bishop Then Must Be … (2) (1 Tim 3:2-7)

We continue looking at the qualifications for a bishop or pastor. He must be hospitable, apt to teach, not a fighter, gentle and not a lover of money.

The God of the Second Chance

Rob Perry

Using notes from a message by J. Vernon McGee, one of our deacons highlights God’s working with men, giving opportunities through a lifetime to make spiritual choices in service of the Great God of heaven.

Sunday Messages:

The Purpose and Place of the Law (Rm 5:20)

For the first time in Romans, Paul introduces the Law in a positive way, showing us one of the major purposes for the Law as an intermediary step between Adam and Christ. The Law comes in alongside sin in order to intensify the impact of ‘the transgression’ on everyone. In so doing, it also magnifies our understanding of the abundance of grace available through faith in Jesus Christ.

Distinguishing Worldly Passions (Tt 2:12, 1 Jn 2:15-17, Gal 5:19-21)

In this lesson we distinguish between things that a Christian might do (‘works of the flesh’) that are ungodly and Scripturally prohibited and the worldly desires a Christian might have (‘lusts of the flesh’) that hinder our relationship with Christ. In making this distinction we arrive at a definition of worldliness.

The Bishop Then Must Be… (1 Tim 3:2-7)

In this message we begin to look at the qualities required of a bishop or pastor. We note that these are primarily spiritual qualities, but also note that they are almost all qualities required of every Christian in other passages of Scripture. We conclude that the pastor is not a ‘super-Christian’ but a comprehensively consistent and mature Christian who exhibits these qualities in his life

From our Wednesday look at the psalms…

O give thanks to the Lord (Ps 106:1-48)

Our Psalm this week, like Ps 105, surveys the history of Israel, but in this psalm the perspective is not God’s great intervention on Israel’s behalf, but man’s consistent failure in spite of God’s great faithfulness. Yet the great assurance of the psalm is that the covenant keeping God will answer the pleas of his people. That’s grace!

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One Act Plays (Rm 5:18-19)

We now get to the heart of Paul’s proof that Christ is able to transfer the many benefits of salvation to his many followers by the power of his one act of obedience. Christ’s ability to do this very great thing is shown by mere Adam’s power to transfer his sentence and his state to his many descendents as a result of his one act of sin. Christ’s one act of submission is profound in its power and overwhelming in its ability to transfer many blessings to many people, as many as will receive him.

A few thoughts concerning Baptism (Mt 28:18-20, Rm 6:3-5)

A brief message reviewing the essentials of the meaning and place of baptism, preached prior to a baptismal service.

And Last, on Vows (Lev 27:1-34)

Our last look at Leviticus covers a chapter that seems oddly out of place in the context of the book. The subject, however, is one which God takes seriously, the uttering of vows. Vows are costly and breaking them are costlier. We then look at a vow God took and how certain the performance of that vow makes us of our ultimate salvation in God’s firstborn, the One he dedicated to the ban, his firstfruits of a mighty inheritance.

Rm 5.18 can be construed as support for the idea of universalism. In fact, unbelieving ‘scholars’ have used it as such. In this message, we show how such a view contradicts the message of the Bible and the message of Paul in Romans, as seen in the immediate context. A universalistic world would be a world that knows no bounds or restraints, not even the disapproval of men. And we address a problem of ‘practical universalism’, where professing Christians attempt to maintain their Christian assurance but live lives as if God is unconcerned about restraining their lifestyle in any way.

Defining Worldly Passions (Titus 2:12, 1 Jn 2:15-17)

In this lesson we come to some conclusions about the worldly lusts mentioned in Titus 2.12, and turn to 1 Jn 2.15-17 for a further definition and understanding of the term. These desires are the underlying motives of ungodliness and are opposed to a life lived soberly, righteously, and godly which grace instructs us to live.

A Good Desire for a Good Work (1 Tim 3:1)

In this message we look at the desire for the office of ‘bishop’ or ‘overseer’ in a local church. The apostle commends the work as good and speaks of that desire that moves a man to stretch himself out to grasp the office as a worthy desire in the assembly.

Missionary Scott Dean updates us on his mission to Mongolia. He is labouring to build the church in Mongolia by building men in Christ. His presentation is a blessing to us as always.

This message is a reprise from our series in the Gospel of John. We take a look at John’s purpose statement for his Gospel in the belief that John has indeed proven his proposition. In looking at the gospel this way, we call men to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Denying Worldly Passions (Titus 2:12)

In this lesson we look at some of the background information defining the words in Titus 2.12. The gospel teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires while living in a certain way: soberly, righteously, and godly. In understanding these terms we take another step towards understanding the concept of worldliness.

Saved by Childbearing? (1 Tim 2:15)

In today’s message, we tackle the understanding of one of the most difficult verses in the Bible. At face value, it might seem to deny some key doctrines concerning salvation. As we examine the details of the passage, we find that it grants a complementary opportunity for Christian women to find great blessing and satisfying ministry influence if they will continue in the faith, submissive to God’s order and embracing God’s mission in the local church.