Understanding My Salvation - Part 5: Lessons from Barabbas

In this new series, we're taking a deep dive into understanding our salvation. While it may seem like a basic topic, it's fundamental that every Christian has a thorough understanding of their salvation. Sadly, for many of us, our knowledge is shallow.

Last week, we explored the significance of Christ's Cross. Within Jesus' trial and execution lies the story of a prisoner set free—the insurrectionist Barabbas. In part five of this series, we'll examine the lessons we can glean from Barabbas' story.

Understanding My Salvation - Part 2: The Law of God

In this new series, we're taking a deep dive into understanding our salvation. While it may seem like a basic topic, it's fundamental that every Christian has a thorough understanding of their salvation. Sadly, for many of us, our knowledge is shallow.

Too many Christians label themselves as "New Testament Christians." This notion isn't just misguided—it's scripturally unsound and potentially dangerous. The law of God provides insight into the mind of God.

In part two of this series, we'll explore the significance of God's law.

Understanding My Salvation - Part 1: The Holiness of God

In this new series, we're taking a deep dive into understanding our salvation. While it may seem like a basic topic, it's fundamental that every Christian has a thorough understanding of their salvation. Sadly, for many of us, our knowledge is shallow.

When discussing salvation, we often focus on you (the person, the sinner). This is a mistake. We must start with who God is and what He expects.

In part one of this series, we focus on the Holiness of God.

Teachers Wanted

The world eagerly seeks to influence and shape young people. It’s all too willing to take on this task, molding your children in its image. Sadly, we can become so caught up in life's hustle that we inadvertently let this happen. But our kids need Jesus. They need to learn Scripture and witness the Truth being taught by God-inspired men and women.

In this lesson, we urge our congregation to step up and lead our Sunday school classes.

Report Card

Our kids are back in school. For many families, this means focusing on school activities and academic performance. While these things are valuable and important, it's crucial that we continue guiding our kids towards their King and His kingdom.

In this lesson, we encourage all our awesome students to aim for straight "F"s on their report card. We explain what we mean by that in the sermon.

Old Building, New Church - Part 7

In the modern church, we often value our political party affiliation more than our family. We align more with our cultural associations than our heavenly orientation. This means we're closer to people like us than to those being saved with us. We hate our opponent's party more than the sin in our own lives. It’s all-consuming because American politics is corrosive.

For the last two weeks, we have been studying the first-century church in Acts 2. These radical inaugural Christians cut out everyone in their lives who were wrong about Jesus. So what did they do? Did they campaign for new governments or secretly plan a revolution? That's not what we read in Acts 2:42-47.

In this lesson, we implore you to look to scripture and realign with your people, your King, and His Kingdom.

Old Building, New Church - Part 6

The denominational world has stripped baptism of its significance, making it almost irrelevant.

Today, people often say, "All you gotta do is believe" or "Call on the name of the Lord" to be saved. These are Biblical concepts, but modern interpretations have stripped them of their original meaning.

The Bible makes it clear: baptism is not just an outward sign of an inward grace. In Acts 2, baptism is a public identification with the public denunciation of Jesus. The establishment denounced Jesus publicly. On the day of Pentecost, the 3,000 people who were baptized were publicly immersed into the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What the enemies made public, the followers of Jesus also publicized.

In this week's lesson, we explore why baptism is essential to salvation.

Old Building, New Church - Part 5

Sometimes words evolve and change their meaning over time, even to the point of adopting the exact opposite meaning. This phenomenon can also apply to Biblical concepts. The Bible may contain statements or phrases that, through frequent repetition by mankind, lose their original meaning.

In this week's lesson, we delve into Acts 2:21, which states, "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." It is absolutely crucial to correctly understand this scripture so that we can faithfully surrender to God's plan for salvation.

Old Building, New Church - Part 4

If you’re a faithful Christian, you listen to the scriptures read in church every Sunday. But do you truly hear them? Are you really listening?

As we continue our study of Acts 2, we see the Apostle Peter revealing familiar scriptures to an audience of faithful Jews. His message wasn't out of left field. It didn't come from nowhere. His message was God focused, Bible based, and Christ centered - just like ours should be.

Old Building, New Church - Part 3

We often make excuses for why we are not qualified to lead or serve. In Acts 2:14-36, the apostle Peter boldly declares before thousands that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah. While it's true that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, his confidence is not surprising. It is built on important experiences with Jesus. In this lesson, we examine four encounters between Peter and Jesus to understand how Peter was able to stand with such confidence.