LBFC Weekly Sermons
by Long Beach Friends Church
This is a stream of the weekly sermons from Long Beach Friends Church in downtown Long Beach, CA. This podcast is released under a Creative Commons Attribute, Non-commercial, No derivatives 4.0 license. Don't modify it or sell it but share it as you wish.See https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Episodes
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Paul's Prison Letters - Philemon
In Philemon, Paul is writing to stretch one of the members of the church in Colosse - asking him to do the right thing. Philemon will have to grow in his knowledge and understanding of what if means to live the new life he has received in Christ - and so will we! After all, this is a…
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Paul's Prison Letters - Colossians 4.2-18 - Closing Words
In Colossians 4.1-18, Paul is finishing up his teaching and direction for the church in Colosse, and then transitions into more personal matters of the church community as he closes his letter. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give:...
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Paul's Prison Letters - Colossians 3.1-4.1 - All of Life as Sacramental
In Colossians 3.1-4.1, Paul begins to draw out some of the implications of being "in Christ" and "knowing Him" for the new life we live in this physical world. The idea that particular traditions, rituals, or various forms of human religion identify us as belonging to God is completely undermined...
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Paul's Prison Letters - Colossians 2.6-23 - Jesus is All We Need
In Colossians 2.6-23, Paul writes to make clear that Jesus Christ is all one needs for the fullness of humanity as God created us to have. It is quite a revolutionary line of reasoning, undermining human religion and traditions. And just what are those "elemental spiritual forces of the world,"...
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Paul's Prison Letters - Colossians 1.24-2.5 - Paul's Labor and Suffering
In Colossians 1.24-2.5, Paul writes his imprisonment, his suffering, and his labor for the people of the churches in Colossae and Laodicea. What is this labor? How does Paul teach us to view suffering as a follower of Christ? Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give:...
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Paul's Prison Letters - Colossians 1.15-23 - Jesus is All We Need
In Colossians 1.15-23, Paul writes about the Son of God. Who is he? How does he compare with other leaders, other beings, other powers? Is Jesus really trustworthy? Is he enough? We discuss the essential difference between trusting and following Jesus and human religion. (Note that there is no...
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Paul's Prison Letters - Ephesians 6.10-24 - The Struggle
In Ephesians 6.10-24, Paul writes about how to stand firm in the struggle against evil as he closes his letter to the church in Ephesus. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see...
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Paul's Prison Letters - Ephesians 5.21 - 6.9 - Living as the Body of Christ in Our Households
In Ephesians 5.21-6.9, Paul applies his teaching regarding being new humans in the body of Christ to common household life in Ephesus - addressing relationships between wives and husbands, children and parents, and slaves and masters. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give:...
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Paul's Prison Letters - Ephesians 5.1-21 - Life by the Spirit
In Ephesians 5.1-21, Paul continues contrasting life in the body of Christ with the world, and then begins explaining how life in the body can work. It is wisdom, knowing God's will, and life by the Spirit - individually and as a body with Christ as head! Visit us on the web…
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Paul's Prison Letters - Ephesians 4.17-5.2 - Living as Jesus People
Paul talks about what life in the body of Christ should be like in Ephesians 4.17-5.2. It is about embodying the truth, the love, that is in Jesus - in God. This life is lived even in a broken world, but not lived according to the patterns of this world. It is lived as the life of Christ, in him....
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Celebrating 250 Years of the United States of America
Considering how to approach the July 4th Celebration of 250 years as a nation in our contentious times....
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Paul's Prison Letters - Ephesians 4.1-16 - Unity in the Body by the Spirit
This message discusses Ephesians 4.1-16. Paul talks a lot about unity by the Spirit, and the body of Christ. What does Paul mean by these things? What does he not mean? Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front…
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Paul's Prison Letters - Praying Like Paul
This message discusses Ephesians 3.7-21. Paul breaks into prayer for the church in Ephesus, again! What can we learn about how to pray from considering how Paul prays? The Homework Questions: 1. What did Paul pray for the believers in chapter 1? 2. What did Paul pray for the believers in chapter…
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Ephesians 2.11-3.6 - One New Humanity
This message discusses Ephesians 2.11-3.6. Paul teaches that God has created one new humanity in Christ. This is why he is in prison! Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see...
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Ephesians 2.1-10 - Alive by Grace!
This message discusses Ephesians 2.1-10, focusing on the foundation of Paul's concept of the Christian life. We are alive by grace to do good works! Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer…
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Ephesians 1.15-23 - Knowing God
This message discusses Ephesians 1.15-23, focusing on the major theme of knowing God. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/,...
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Ephesians 1.1-14 - Inheritance
This message reviews a bit of the background for Paul's letter to Ephesus and then discusses Ephesians 1.1-14, focusing on the major theme of inheritance. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by Adam...
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Special Episode on Peacemaking
This message on peacemaking interrupts our planned sequence in the series on Paul's Prison Letters due to the need to express Christian views on the war that the United States has entered into. Long Beach Friends Church is a peace church - a part of the larger Friends/Quaker (among others) Peace...
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Paul's Prison Letters - Introduction
This message is the introduction to our series on Paul's Prison Letters. In it, we cover portions of Acts that give background for these letters, particularly background for Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give:...
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Palm Sunday
In this message we talk about Palm Sunday and Holy Week, the week leading up to Resurrection Sunday. Why did Jesus ride into Jerusalem... on a donkey? Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer,...
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What Is the Point?
Just what is the point of being a Christian, anyway? What is the purpose in following Christ? Why are we separated from God? What is the nature of that separation? Just where are we going in this life with Jesus, following Him? These questions were answered very differently by many early…
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Words
If Jesus is Lord, what obligation does that place on his followers to avoid certain kinds of speech - of not using particular kinds of words? We consider how Paul instructs Jesus people to speak only what is helpful for building others up. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give:...
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Obligations of Love
If Jesus is Lord, what obligation does that place on his followers to speak up for the truth, even if the truth is unpopular? We consider how faithful followers of Yahweh have spoken up in the past when it was unpopular and how we might think of this for us as Jesus people today. Visit us on the...
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Every Knee?
"Every knee will bow..."? Really? What does this mean? Is God or Jesus into domination, an insecure wannabe tyrant who coerces subservience?I've heard him described as such based on these words. I don't think this interpretation is accurate. So, following on from covering epiphany and allegiance,...
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Allegiance
Allegiance is a word I've not often heard associated with how we describe our relationship with Jesus; but when I heard Skye Jethani describe it this way recently is made me think more deeply. So in this message we consider what it means to put our allegiance on (or in?) Jesus. Visit us on the…
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Epiphany!
Epiphany! Epiphany is both a Christian Calendar Holy Day recognized in many traditions on January 6, a word with a generic meaning in English, and a description of a spiritual reality central to what it means to be "Christian." In this message we consider the crucial and central meaning of...
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2025 Advent Hope - and Waiting
Advent is a time when those who follow the classic church calendar look forward to Jesus returning - an Advent, a coming. Many others look back to remember when he came born as a baby in Bethlehem. In this first Advent message we look at the theme of hope, which implies we are waiting for...…
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2025 Advent Peace - Shalom
Advent is a time when those who follow the classic church calendar look forward to Jesus returning - an Advent, a coming. Many others look back to remember when he came born as a baby in Bethlehem. In this second Advent message we look at the theme of peace, better explained through the Hebrew…
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Halloween?
It's the Halloween season again. These days, Halloween has a bad reputation among many Christians. Is it deserved? Should Christians participate in the events surrounding Halloween? At the very least, we need not be afraid. In this message, recorded live on October 19 (apologies for the echo in…
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Christians, Politics, and Government - Today's Deception
Well, we are certainly in a time when hate and violence seem to be gaining momentum and acceptance - even among some who claim to be Christian. The temptation to become a fierce, crusading warrior "for Jesus" is strong in our time, apparently. But no. Just no. This is not a new temptation. It is...
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Wilderness Living - Recorded Live on Sunday morning, September 7, 2025
We took a two week break from our ongoing series starting Labor Day weekend. Circumstances conspired to make it impractical to release a pre-recording of the message for this past week (September 7, 2025). However, we recorded the message live in our English-language service on Sunday and decided...
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Christians, Politics, and Government - Are Christians Political?
As was inevitable, some have wondered if this series has been "political" - wondering if that is improper. Christianity is political, and speaking as a Christian inevitably has political implications. However, we do not speak in a partisan manner to support one party or another. We speak the…
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Christians, Politics, and Government - To Love My Neighbor
In our series on Christians, Politics, and Government we are moving into considering what it means to love our neighbor. This message only mentions briefly any application of this idea to government and politics, so expect to be personally challenged. Of course, listeners are encouraged to…
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Christians, Politics, and Government - Other Gods
In our series on Christians, Politics, and Government we are moving into considering what "other gods" may be taking priority in our politics, government - and in our own lives. This briefer-than-usual message includes questions for discussion and personal application, reproduced here for your...
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Christians, Politics, and Government - Immigration
In our series on Christians, Politics, and Government we are moving into specific topics now that a foundation for a Christian approach is established. Our first topic is... immigration! Can we discuss immigration with others truthfully with less heat and light that shows us as people who love…
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Christians, Politics, and Government - To Speak or Remain Silent?
How should Christians respond to evil? How should Christians respond to evil done in Jesus' name? In this episode we work through a bit more of the basic teaching of Jesus for all of his followers and then consider when to speak up, or act, and when to remain silent. Visit us on the web:...
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Christians, Politics, and Government - Hate, Disrespect, and Slander
I'm sure you noticed the hostile tone of discourse in the media these days, even from those who claim to be Christians. In this episode we work through Jesus' ways of using words, beginning with a broader discussion of hate. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give:...
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Christians, Politics, and Government - Fear
We seem to be living in a time when politics is particularly driven by fear, when government is introducing policies that seem to be motivated or supported by fear. What does it mean to be a Christian - to follow Jesus, in such a time? We consider the most frequent instruction or command one can...
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Christians, Politics, and Government - The Foundation
What does it mean to be a Christian - to follow Jesus? Many Christians in the United States seem to be doing things that are inconsistent with following Jesus, or supporting such things. So how do we identify what it means to be a Christian? How do we evaluate the actions of our government? What...
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Afterwards, They Sang - Preparing for Passover and Resurrection Sunday
Matthew reports in chapter 26, verse 30 that Jesus and the disciples sang... something? I mean, after eating the Passover meal that we often call The Last Supper. What did they sing? In this episode we discuss the Psalms that they would have sung (Psalms 113-118) and then my granddaughter Malea…
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4 What is God Like - Loving and Faithful
In this episode we again consider what God is like. Beginning with the description God gives of himself in Exodus 34, we consider what it means that God is loving and faithful - two characteristics that are inseparable in God. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give:...
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3 What is God Like - Compassionate
In this episode we consider what God is like. Following up on the description God gives of himself in Exodus 34, we consider what it means that God is compassionate. It may seem simple, but we often have a difficult time with compassion! Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give:...
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2 What is God Like - Gracious
In this episode we consider what God is like. Following up on the description God gives of himself in Exodus 34, we consider what it means that God is gracious. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by…
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1 What is God Like?
In this episode we consider what God is like. Is he the angry, vengeful God so often attributed to the "Old Testament"? Is he like Jesus? Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see...
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2024 Advent - Blessed? Least?
In this episode we consider the scriptures associated with Christmas from the standpoint of some passages we studied in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount - the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, and even the Sheep and the Goats passage from Matthew 25. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give:...
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2024 Considering Advent
In this episode we consider three advents of Jesus. He has come, He is coming, and He will come! Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see...
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Sermon on the Mount - Grounded on the Rock
In this episode we conclude our series on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, covering his challenge to "build our house on the rock." We consider in some detail a foolish plan for life that is building on sand. We encourage everyone to check out the Bible Project series at...
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Sermon on the Mount - Watch Out for False Prophets
We've arrived at the concluding challenge section of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. In this podcast the focus is Jesus' warning against the danger of false prophets. The podcast from last time that reviews the Sermon on the Mount, as referred to in this episode can be found at...
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Sermon on the Mount - Two Gates
We've arrived at the concluding challenge section of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. In this podcast we briefly review the sermon so far, and then focus on the images of two gates that Jesus uses in his conclusion: one small opening to a narrow road and one broad leading to an easy road. We also take…
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Sermon on the Mount - Ask, Seek, Knock... for What?
Jesus has taught us to seek first God's kingdom and right relationships - and not to judge or condemn others, but to use discernment. He has moved into teaching us about our relationships with one another. And then, he says "Ask, Seek, Knock..." For what? We often take this passage out of context...
About this show
This is a stream of the weekly sermons from Long Beach Friends Church in downtown Long Beach, CA. This podcast is released under a Creative Commons Attribute, Non-commercial, No derivatives 4.0 license. Don't modify it or sell it but share it as you wish.See https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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Long Beach Friends Church
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