Acts of the Apostles series

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our When In Romans Series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our When In Romans Series.

The Law, Human Logic, and God's Righteousness: Understanding Romans 3This sermon explores Romans 3:1-24, addressing the misuse of Scripture when verses are taken out of context and the importance of proper biblical interpretation. The pastor emphasizes that while Jews had advantages through God's covenant, the law, and Scripture, these advantages did not grant automatic salvation. Paul's argument reveals that both Jews and Gentiles are equally under sin, and human logic often fails when trying to justify ourselves before God. The sermon demonstrates how the law's purpose is to reveal sin, not to save us, and that God's righteousness is ultimately disclosed through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. The core message is that all humanity—regardless of ethnic or religious background—falls short of God's glory, but all are justified freely by His grace through redemption in Christ Jesus.

This sermon explores Romans 3:1-24, addressing the misuse of Scripture when verses are taken out of context and the importance of proper biblical interpretation. The pastor emphasizes that while Jews had advantages through God's covenant, the law, and Scripture, these advantages did not grant automatic salvation. Paul's argument reveals that both Jews and Gentiles are equally under sin, and human logic often fails when trying to justify ourselves before God. The sermon demonstrates how the law's purpose is to reveal sin, not to save us, and that God's righteousness is ultimately disclosed through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. The core message is that all humanity—regardless of ethnic or religious background—falls short of God's glory, but all are justified freely by His grace through redemption in Christ Jesus.

Join us as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our Guest Speaker Phil Seymour continues with part four of our series on Virtues.

This sermon provides a comprehensive exploration of the Mosaic Law and its relationship to Christian faith today. The pastor addresses the common question of which Old Testament laws Christians must still follow by introducing a threefold categorization of the law: moral, ceremonial, and civil/judicial. The message emphasizes that while ceremonial and civil laws were fulfilled in Christ, the moral law remains binding on believers. The sermon demonstrates that the law was never meant to save anyone but rather to reveal humanity's universal need for Jesus Christ. Both Jews who had the law and Gentiles who didn't equally need salvation through faith in Christ alone. The teaching culminates in the recognition that Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law and became the sacrifice that frees believers from the law's penalty, making His blood the only pathway to eternal life.

The Danger of Judgment: Walking in God's KindnessThis powerful exploration of Romans chapter 2 challenges us to examine the dangerous territory of judgment and self-righteousness. We're confronted with a paradox: while we're called to hold fellow believers accountable within the church through gentle restoration, we have no standing to condemn those outside our faith community. The message draws a stark contrast between Jesus' righteous anger toward religious hypocrites and His tender compassion toward ordinary sinners. We see Him overturning tables in the temple yet sitting gently with the woman at the well. This reveals a crucial truth: our harshest judgments should be reserved for ourselves, not others. The sermon dissects three toxic forms of judgment—hypocritical, presumptuous, and self-righteous—showing how each one places us in God's seat rather than at His feet. The most convicting insight is this: when we post harsh criticism on social media or gossip under the guise of prayer, we become the very Pharisees Jesus condemned. What transforms hearts isn't our accusations but God's kindness. His loving mercy leads people to repentance, not our condemnation. This message calls us to ruthless self-examination, asking whether we're quick to see specks in others' eyes while ignoring the beams in our own. It's an invitation to repent of our judgmental attitudes and remember that we stand righteous only because of Christ's blood, not our moral superiority.

What stirs the wrath of a holy God? This powerful exploration of Romans 1:18-32 takes us on a sobering journey through the throne room of heaven and into the depths of human sinfulness. We're confronted with a vivid picture: God seated in unapproachable light, worthy of all glory, yet humanity repeatedly choosing to suppress His truth, exchange His glory for worthless idols, and embrace lies over reality. The passage reveals four critical areas that provoke divine anger: our damage to truth through suppression and deceit, our mental futility when we refuse to love God with our minds, our worship of created things rather than the Creator, and our sexual immorality in all its forms. What makes this message so compelling is its unflinching honesty about the gap between us and God—a chasm so vast that no human effort could ever bridge it. Yet this devastating diagnosis leads to the most beautiful cure: Jesus Christ, who absorbed God's wrath on our behalf. When we truly grasp how far we've fallen, we can finally appreciate how high Christ has lifted us. This isn't just ancient theology; it's a mirror held up to our modern struggles with pornography, idolizing family or reputation, accepting cultural lies, and calling evil good. The call is clear: value truth, fight for our minds, reject idols, honor God's design for sexuality, and worship Him with everything we have.

This exploration of Romans 1:18-32 confronts us with an uncomfortable yet essential truth: God's wrath is real, and it's actually comforting. We often live in an era of 'bobblehead Jesus'—a sanitized version of faith that emphasizes only love and acceptance while ignoring divine justice. But when we truly grasp that God's righteous anger burns against evil, we find comfort in knowing He shares our fury at the injustice, suffering, and brokenness we witness daily. The passage reveals three critical truths: first, that everyone knows God through creation itself, leaving us without excuse; second, that God's temporal wrath manifests when He 'gives people over' to their destructive desires, leading to the death of relationships, health, freedom, and joy; and third, that eternal wrath awaits those who persist in unbelief and disobedience. Yet this sobering reality makes the gospel shine even brighter—Jesus Christ stands as our shield, absorbing the full force of divine wrath that we deserve. His sacrifice transforms us from objects of wrath into beloved children, protected not by our goodness but by His righteousness. This message calls us to hold both truths simultaneously: trembling before God's holiness while resting securely in Christ's saving work.

n Romans 1:8-17, we encounter a powerful introduction to what many consider the most theologically rich letter in the New Testament. This passage invites us into Paul's heart as he expresses gratitude, reveals his prayer life, and unveils the essence of the gospel itself. What stands out immediately is Paul's emphasis on gratitude as a foundational spiritual practice—not just a polite nicety, but an antidote to the spiritual poisons we ingest daily from our culture, media, and circumstances. When we begin with thanksgiving, we position ourselves to receive God's truth with open hearts. The passage also challenges our modern understanding of faith as something we possess, like an object in our pocket, and reframes it as an active, living verb—something we do, walk in, and continually practice. Perhaps most compelling is Paul's declaration that he is 'not ashamed of the gospel,' which carries profound weight when we consider the social cost of faith in his context and ours. The gospel Paul preaches isn't merely a ticket from hell to heaven; it's the power of God for complete salvation—healing our relationships with God, transforming our daily walk, and covering us with divine righteousness. This passage reminds us that faith isn't static but dynamic, that the gospel connects the entire biblical story from the Old Testament to Christ, and that walking by faith is a lifelong journey of discovery, growth, and transformation.

In Romans 1:1-7, we encounter a powerful introduction that reveals the very heart of the gospel message. Paul identifies himself not as a celebrity or self-made leader, but as a slave of Jesus Christ—a radical declaration that challenges our modern notions of independence and autonomy. This isn't oppressive slavery, but willing surrender to the One who is smarter, kinder, and more loving than we could ever be. When we accept the free gift of salvation, we discover it actually costs us everything: our plans, our will, our entire lives. Yet this surrender leads to true freedom, peace, and joy. The passage then unveils Jesus in His full glory—the eternal Son who humbled Himself at the incarnation, walked among us as both Son of God and Son of Man, died on the cross, and was resurrected as the Son of God in power. This resurrection marked His return to the fullness of divine glory, appointed by the Holy Spirit as ruler over all. We're reminded that this gospel wasn't a new invention but the fulfillment of ancient prophecies spoken through the prophets, promised to King David, and now revealed in Christ. As those loved by God and called to be saints, we're invited into a life of obedient faith—not legalistic rule-following, but a loving response to the One who gave everything for us. In times of division and chaos, we can rest in the blessing Paul offers: grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We stand at the threshold of one of Scripture's most transformative books—Romans. Written to a church fractured by cultural and theological divisions between Jewish and Gentile believers, this letter speaks powerfully to our own divided times. The church in Rome faced real tensions: Jews who had been expelled and then returned found their worship practices displaced by Gentile traditions. Sound familiar? We too navigate differences of opinion, political affiliations, and varied perspectives on how to live out our faith. Yet Paul's message cuts through all our divisions with a singular focus: we are being conformed to the image of Christ. This isn't about cultural Christianity or maintaining comfortable traditions—it's about laying everything on the altar. Following Jesus costs us everything precisely because it's worth everything. As we journey through Romans together, we'll wrestle with the complexities of the gospel, learn how to think and act as transformed people in a broken world, and discover what true unity looks like when we seek God first and love each other well, even in disagreement.

Dave brings us the final installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor John brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor John brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor John brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris brings us the next installment of our Acts of the Apostles series.

Pastor Chris kicks of our new series on the book of Acts.