Fellowship Bible Church

Believers in Christ are heirs of God's eternal promises, not through adherence to religious laws or rituals, but through faith. Drawing from Galatians 4, the metaphor of a child heir under guardians and stewards illustrates how the Mosaic law served as a temporary tutor, guiding people to faith in Christ. But now that faith has come, the Law's role is fulfilled. The believer's identity is no longer defined by legalistic observances—such as days, months, or seasons—but by adoption as a son, empowered by the Spirit of Christ who enables the intimate cry of 'Abba, Father.' This spiritual adoption, rooted in grace and not works, establishes the believer as a co-heir with Christ, inheriting eternal life and a personal relationship with God, making any return to legalistic bondage both illogical and a corruption of the gospel. The message is a powerful call to remain steadfast in the freedom of grace, recognizing that salvation is complete in Christ alone.

The central message of this passage is that salvation is exclusively by faith in Christ Jesus, not by adherence to religious rituals, laws, or cultural distinctions. It affirms that all who believe are adopted as sons of God, united in Christ, and thus transcending divisions of ethnicity, social status, or gender, forming one new humanity in Him. This unity is grounded in the Abrahamic promise fulfilled in Christ, making believers heirs according to that promise, with the Holy Spirit sealing their inheritance. The law, though once a necessary tutor to lead people to Christ, is no longer binding, as faith in Christ has fulfilled its purpose. The believer's identity is now defined solely by union with Christ, marked by spiritual rebirth, adoption, and the transformative call to live in accordance with His life and teachings.

True faith inevitably leads to self-denial, cross-bearing, and a life surrendered to Christ. It confronts the deceptive allure of worldly success—riches, status, and pleasure—by exposing the eternal stakes: gaining the whole world yet losing one's soul is ultimately futile, as the soul, created in God's image and destined for eternity, cannot be redeemed by earthly pursuits. Jesus' warning is grounded in the reality of divine judgment and the finality of eternal destiny, where every person will either be reconciled to God through Christ's atoning sacrifice or face eternal separation. The message calls all listeners, especially believers, to examine the state of their souls, repent of sin, and place unwavering faith in Christ alone, whose preeminence and redemptive work on the cross are the only means of salvation. Ultimately, the sermon urges a life of intentional discipleship, rooted in the Gospel, with the church's mission being the making of disciples who live for Christ's eternal glory.

The Mosaic Law, though divinely given, was never intended to justify or save. It served a temporary purpose, and it can tutor someone to the poiny of repentance and faith. But we are saved only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and it is the Abrahamic covenant that is the pattern for this.

The sermon centers on Mary, not as an object of veneration, but as a model of faith whose life consistently pointed others to Jesus Christ. Through key moments in Scripture—Jesus' childhood in the temple, the wedding at Cana, and His crucifixion—Mary's responses reveal a profound, quiet obedience: she does not protest when Jesus declares His divine mission, nor when He delays His intervention, but instead affirms His authority by urging others to follow His words. Her life exemplifies the essence of discipleship: recognizing Jesus as Lord, surrendering personal concerns, and directing all attention to Him.

Salvation is by faith in Christ alone, not through adherence to the Mosaic law, as falsely promoted by the Judaizers. Paul emphasizes in this passage that God's covenant with Abraham—promising blessing to all nations through his Seed—was unconditional, unilateral, and fulfilled in Christ. The Law of Moses, given 430 years later, neither nullified, nor added to, nor replaced this promise. Christ is the Seed of Abraham, and those who are in Him by the promise of grace through faith are saved completely. There is nothing to add.

The sermon centers on Jesus' call to lay down your life before the Savior, emphasizing that true discipleship is not a burdensome obligation but as a life of profound freedom and joy. It unpacks the paradox that losing one's life for Christ's sake and the gospel's will ultimately save it, contrasting the fleeting value of worldly gain with the eternal worth of the soul. The preacher underscores that discipleship is not merely about dramatic sacrifice but about a daily, practical transformation—devoting oneself to prayer, living a quiet and godly life, and pursuing peace and reverence in all relationships. Drawing from Paul's instruction to Timothy and the examples of faithful believers in Hebrews 11, the message affirms that the cost of discipleship is real but outweighed by the eternal reward and the deep joy found in surrendering to Christ. Ultimately, the call is not to fear or flee from sacrifice, but to desire it, knowing that Christ's yoke is easy and His burden light, and that the life of a disciple is not one of loss, but of true, lasting life.

This is the third sermon on Jesus' call to discipleship in Mark 8:34, emphasizing that genuine faith is marked by a heartfelt desire to follow Christ, which requires self-denial, taking up one's cross, and a life of committed obedience. Rooted in the pivotal confession that Jesus is the Christ, the passage reveals that true discipleship is not a transactional or self-centered pursuit but a radical reorientation of life toward Christ, modeled by His own sacrificial mission. The preacher unpacks the essence of being a Christian as being a follower—sheep who hear and respond to the Shepherd's voice, students who diligently study Scripture to be approved by God, and servants who embrace humility and self-giving love, rejecting worldly ambition. Through further references to Psalm 23, 2 Timothy 2, and Mark 10, the message underscores that authentic discipleship involves spiritual transformation, ongoing learning, and practical service, all flowing from a heart that desires to follow Christ in every aspect of life.

The preacher highlights how Peter's withdrawal from fellowship with Gentile believers, prompted by fear of Jewish critics, threatened to undermine the unity, truth, and joy of the gospel. Through a series of rhetorical questions and theological declarations, the passage affirms that justification comes solely through faith in Christ, not by works of the law, and that any return to legalism undermines Christ's sacrifice and distorts the gospel.

Jesus calls His disciples to a commitment that defines true discipleship as a life of self-denial, cross-bearing, and faithful following (self-denial is in focus here, the next sermon will address the rest). The sermon emphasizes that authentic discipleship involves a complete renunciation of one's former identity as a necessary death to the old self in order to live for Christ. This costly commitment, far from being a burden to be avoided, is the very essence of the Christian life, marked by a deep desire to walk in obedience, even at great personal cost, because the believer's life is now hidden in Christ. The message is both convicting and urgent, warning that the Western church's cultural accommodation and self-centered spirituality have eroded this foundational call, and calling believers to return to the radical, sacrificial discipleship that Jesus demands.

This Bible study stresses the vital importance of preserving the purity of the Gospel of grace, emphasizing that justification comes solely through faith in Christ, not by adherence to the Law of Moses. It highlights a pivotal moment when Paul publicly confronted Peter in Antioch for withdrawing from fellowship with Gentile believers out of fear of Jewish legalists, thereby undermining the unity and truth of the Gospel. The passage underscores that hypocrisy—acting one way here and another way there—threatens the integrity of the church and can lead believers astray, especially the vulnerable. The core theological truth is reaffirmed: no one is justified by the works of the law, and the Gospel must be lived out with consistent integrity. The call is to the church to stand firm in the freedom of grace, rejecting any addition to the Gospel that would compromise its divine origin and exclusive sufficiency.

This prayer highlights the Psalm's prophetic depth, particularly in its allusions to Christ's death and resurrection, framing David's lament as a foreshadowing of Jesus' triumph over Sheol. The prayer expands into a passionate intercession for the global church, especially persecuted believers, calling for spiritual awakening, bold witness, and unwavering faith amid suffering.

The sermon centers on the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of Christian faith, emphasizing its historical authenticity through the varied yet harmonious testimonies of the four Gospels, which reflect genuine eyewitness accounts rather than a fabricated narrative. It highlights how Jesus' resurrection fulfills prophecy, validates His identity as the Passover Lamb, and inaugurates a new covenant of redemption, while also demonstrating His ongoing ministry to believers through personal encounters with Mary Magdalene, Thomas, and Peter—each illustrating the nature of faith, repentance, and restoration. The preacher underscores that Jesus continues to intercede for His people, offering forgiveness, spiritual intimacy, and unwavering presence, calling all to humble themselves, believe without seeing, and respond to His grace with wholehearted trust, knowing He remains faithful to His promise to never leave or forsake His own.

Good Friday, 2026. This short sermon, given after an edifying time of singing hymns and reading Scripture focused on Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross, presents the theological understanding of justice rooted in the cross of Christ, asserting that true justice is not merely punishment but the righteous restoration of relationship through divine grace. It argues that God's justice is fully satisfied not by just overlooking sin, but by imputing the penalty of sin to Jesus—though innocent—so that those who repent and believe in Him are declared righteous without compromising God's justice and righteousness. This reconciliation, made possible through Christ's sacrificial death, reveals God's dual nature as both just and the justifier, demonstrating that mercy and justice are not opposed but fulfilled in the gospel. The message calls listeners to abandon self-righteousness and embrace humility, repentance, and faith in Christ, recognizing that salvation is not earned but received through grace. Ultimately, the sermon positions the cross as the ultimate act of divine justice and mercy, and invites believers to participate in the ministry of reconciliation by sharing this transformative message with others.

At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus questions His disciples concerning His identity, both from the perception of others and themselves. Peter speaks up for the group, making his foundational confession: 'You are the Christ.' This declaration, rooted in divine revelation rather than human opinion, establishes the bedrock of Christian faith and the church itself. Jesus then immediately shifts focus, revealing that as the Messiah, he must suffer, be rejected, and die before rising again—challenging the disciples' expectations of a triumphant, earthly king. Peter's rebuke of this prophecy prompts Jesus to confront the spiritual danger behind it, identifying both Satan's influence and the disciples' own fleshly thinking as obstacles to understanding God's redemptive plan. The passage underscores that true faith requires not only acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah but also embracing the full scope of his sacrificial mission, which alone provides salvation through atonement and resurrection, calling all to repent and trust in him alone.

2026 Palm Sunday Dinner message. Annually we host this event, and many visitors in need of the Gospel are present, giving us a good evangelistic opportunity. Palm Sunday marks the climactic moment when Jesus, through deliberate action, publicly revealed Himself as the long-anticipated Messiah, fulfilling ancient prophecies by entering Jerusalem on a donkey—a symbol of humility and peace, not military conquest. Though the crowds hailed Him with cries of 'Hosanna,' their expectations were rooted in political deliverance from Roman rule, not spiritual redemption; they failed to grasp that His mission was to die for sins, not to overthrow earthly powers. Jesus' immediate act of cleansing the temple exposed the corruption of religious authority and redirected worship toward true holiness, demonstrating that His kingdom was spiritual, not political. His crucifixion was not a defeat but the fulfillment of divine purpose, where He bore the penalty for human sin, satisfying God's justice and offering forgiveness to all who repent and trust in Him. The resurrection three days later confirmed His victory over death and validated His identity as the Savior. Ultimately, Palm Sunday calls every person to confront their own sinfulness, repent in humility, and place faith in Christ alone for salvation, recognizing that no sin is beyond His grace and no soul is beyond His reach.

With an emphasis on being spiritually minded.

A little abrupt at the end due to a technical issue. Part 2 coming next week!

The leaven of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Herodians: respectively, this can be seen as a warning about legalism, liberalism, politicism (and more). The work of the Great Commission - Gospel advance, disciple-making - follows the course laid out in the word of God, and is THE activity of the church.

Jesus said no sign would be given to "this generation". Matthew 16 records a little more detail, stating that Jesus called it a "wicked and adulterous generation". It is interesting that Jesus addressed that "generation" when speaking to a group of religious leaders. It is worthy of our consideration.

Service held Saturday night due to blizzard conditions forecast for Sunday.