Confession Obsession
This article is about an often good intentioned, well meaning, albeit biblically errant understanding of the relation between faith and words. I am referring to the modern day obsession and over emphasis on the importance and power of confession. Of specific interest for this article is confession as it relates to healing and the Scriptural declaration that “by His stripes we are/were healed” (Isaiah 53:5, &...
read moreLife In The Vine
The Fruit, Not the Root As Christians our good works are the fruit, not the root, of our salvation. Understanding this truth will help save the believer from many unnecessary struggles and ideas. Fruit is important, necessary even. Yet fruit is the result, not the cause, of our being reconciled to God in Christ. Fruit then is the necessary and natural result of our conversion, evidence one is (or is not) saved. The analogy to fruit is enlightening, and replete throughout Scripture. Our Lord has said “I am the vine, and ye are...
read moreBaptist Doesn’t Mean Non-Pentecostal
History & Perspective Really! It’s true. Baptist doesn’t mean non-Pentecostal. Sure, there may have been a time when those two camps where more sharply divided one from the other, but such is not the case today. Granted, the Baptist sect is not itself Pentecostal. However, that doesn’t mean it is inherently non-Pentecostal. That distinction is important to note, and sadly, often overlooked. There is valid reason for that omission, considering the historic, and sometimes sharp, contention that has existed between the two...
read moreA Thanksgiving Blessing
A Fundraising Campaign A family in need is about to lose their only car, and are dependent on it as their sole means of transportation. They need immediate help, today. Skip to the bottom of this article, to the donate form, to give now! They don’t yet know we are doing this to help them, and I am not sharing their name so as to (1) keep this a surprise until we know we have raised enough to help them, and (2) to save them from any embarrassment sharing their name might cause. We will simply refer to them as “The Jays”....
read moreChristian Unity
The Need For Unity Christian unity, in it’s fullest sense, is something yet to be experienced by the church of Jesus. It is nevertheless our destiny and goal. Our Lord prayed that we might be one, and made perfect in one, that the world may believe (John 17:21). Thereby Christian unity is inextricably tied with the evangelization of the world. That work must continue until the whole world hears, and then the end comes (Matthew 24:14)....
read moreOn Spirit Baptism
Pastor Chris preaching at a sister church on Spirit Baptism. The setting was supposed to be following the water baptism of a new convert, who did not make it back for the baptismal service that night. Nevertheless, Pastor Chris abbreviated the water baptism portion and skipped right on to Spirit baptism. We trust you will enjoy this message and be encouraged and edified by it. And that if you have not yet received your baptism in the Spirit, that you will earnestly pursue the same until those promised rivers of living water flow from your...
read moreWhat’s Wrong with Trick or Treating?
Happy Halloween or No The Halloween season has passed for this year, but before it gets to far away from us I wanted to at least address one aspect of this holiday that I feel has significant spiritual implications. An area that many believers are probably honestly not aware of, but should be. There is much about Halloween we can enjoy and celebrate, even as believers. However, if one feels the need to totally abstain that is commendable as well. Still, if we celebrate or participate in Halloween activites we should be sure we are only doing...
read moreRevolving Doors & Grace
A while back some friends and I were discussing the effects of known or intentional sin on a believer. Of specific interest was the nature and consequence of sins, if any, which were tantamount to a rejection of the Lord. Does the Christian sin? If so, in what way? Can a Christian deliberately sin and remain a Christian? What of repentance, or its lack? These where the core questions our banter revolved around. Needless to say, opinions were both ample and varied. During the course of the discussion, after sharing that I believed a deliberate...
read moreDepravity & The Fall of Man
Man is Depraved Rather than laying the ground work for the doctrine of depravity, the fall of man, original sin, and so forth I’m just going to jump right into the discussion. I affirm the fall and depravity of man in Adam. I affirm that we not only inherit mortality and death from him, but that we are also born sinners by nature as a result of the fall. Hence, as I understand it, the need to be born again. To be fair, I wouldn’t say I’m completely Augustinian in my views on original sin, but I certainly fall within the...
read moreAttack of the Evil Hand!
Resisting and overcoming temptation is an everyday, every moment, part of the Christian life. But what do we do when the temptation is unusually strong? What about when we find ourselves easily giving in to the same temptation a lot? How are we to do we deal with besetting sins? This sermon sets out to answer those questions. While it may not be exhaustive we trust it is sufficient for your present need, and that it will point you in the right direction. We are MORE than conquerors through Him! Watch as Pastor Chris shares about some of...
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