LBFC Weekly Sermons

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 message specifically covering Colossians 1.1-14 because of extensive similarity to Paul's message in the first chapter of Ephesians. See the message on that passage for more explanation of these concepts.) 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/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Photo of the Colossae area courtesy of A.Savin, Wikipedia.

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 https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Photos of Ephesus and Pompeii are from BiblePlaces.com.

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: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Photos of Ephesus and Pompeii are from BiblePlaces.com.

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: 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/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Photos of Ephesus are from BiblePlaces.com.

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. 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/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Photos of Ephesus are from BiblePlaces.com.

Considering how to approach the July 4th Celebration of 250 years as a nation in our contentious times....

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 Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Photos of Ephesus are from BiblePlaces.com.

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 3? 3. Meditate on Paul's prayers… Ask God for deeper knowledge of Him in the ways that Paul prays for the believers. 4. Paul prays for Glory to God in the church – what would this mean, practically speaking? 5. Consider how Paul's praying might sharpen your approach to prayer. 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/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Photos of Ephesus are from BiblePlaces.com.

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 https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Photos of Ephesus are from BiblePlaces.com.

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, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Photos of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis are from BiblePlaces.com.

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/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Photos of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis are from BiblePlaces.com.

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 Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Photos of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis are from BiblePlaces.com.

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 Church movement; so that's a major theme in this message. However, in a time when many highly-placed voices in our society claim to represent Jesus, yet claim the war is justified and pray for God's favor to kill and destroy "enemies", we also consider their claims in light of classic Christian Just War theory. Not coincidentally, this message fits in harmoniously, if loosely, with Paul's Prison Letters - so we are considering it an episode in that series. 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/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. The title slide photo of the donkey is from BiblePlaces.com.

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: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Photos of Ephesus and the temple of Artemis are from BiblePlaces.com.