Christian Bible Church Sermons

The gospel is a message that offends the world and Christians can sometimes be tempted to water down the message. But as Paul begins his letter to the Romans, he says “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” This passage gives a great summary of the gospel while also telling us who it’s for and how it works. 

In this final section of the Book of Galatians, Paul will return to the theme which has dominated every verse of this book: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In this passage, Paul will look at the cross and the new creation which is found through the Lord. 

You reap what you sow. It’s one of the principles by which God has ordered his creation. It’s true for a student, it’s true in our marriages, it’s true at the office. You reap what you sow. Most importantly, it’s true in the life of our faith. If we are sowing into a great relationship with God, we will reap a harvest. If we aren’t sowing, we will reap a harvest of a different kind. 

At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, the risen Jesus commanded his disciples to go out into the world and to make disciples and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Churches disagree on virtually every aspect of how a baptism is done and what it means but one of the areas of agreement is that it is something which is important for all Christians. 

We are called to love our neighbor and to bear one another’s burdens. In this passage, these commands are contrasted by two things which are destructive to our relationships: envy and pride. 

Throughout the Bible, we see agricultural language. From creation in a garden to man’s expulsion and curse where they face famine and draught. Great festivals of the Old Testament which celebrate harvests and revolve around food. Several of the parables of Jesus invoke agricultural language and in the last supper, Jesus takes the dietary staple of bread, and the fruit of the vine and compares them to his body and blood which are given for our sins. 

So many things that happen in life are underwhelming and don't live up to the hype. And perhaps the disappointment of the world influence our expectations of heaven. Heaven is not an internal church service, nor is it spending the rest of time on a cloud in a robe, playing the harp. Heaven is a perfect restoration of a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem. It is the presence of God. 

Easter message. The resurrection of Jesus means everything to the Christian faith. Message preached by Josh Benner and Trey Scheffer.

Good Friday message.

We often reduce the Christian life to a list of rules. Do’s and don’ts. But in Galatians 5, Paul calls upon Christians to walk and live by the Spirit and talks of the fruits of that Spiritual life. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are not commands here. They’re the byproduct of a Spirit-filled walk. 

Many in our world can be hard to love, but the Bible repeatedly commands us to love our neighbor. Jesus sought out those who were looked down upon in his society. For most of us, it’s easy to be selective about those with whom we interact. Because of that, it’s easy to think that we excel at loving our neighbor. But in a fallen world, it’s often a bigger challenge than we want to admit. 

Jesus brings freedom, both from our sin and freedom from the toil of trying to earn his forgiveness. The Galatian situation was one that has continued to be an issue throughout the church. Adding rules and manmade structures. But as we will see, this is not the gospel.

Throughout the history of the church, there has been a conflict between grace and works. In this passage, Paul looks to two sons of Abraham born by two different women and points to how they allegorically represent these two paths. On one side, you have freedom, grace, and God’s promises. On the other side, you have slavery, law, and man’s works.

Sometimes Jesus meets us in the storm. In this passage, the disciples find themselves out on the Sea of Galilee when they get caught up in a ferocious storm. Why are they there? Because Jesus had them get on the boat. Where’s Jesus? He’s asleep on the boat. But when he wakes up, he will respond in a way which will leave the disciples with fear and awe, as they question “who is this?”

We live in a world where there is a lot of religious chatter, and many opinions. It can be hard to sift through it to get to truth. In this passage, Paul expresses his concern for the Galatian Christians who had been led away from the truth of the gospel by false teachers who had instead preached a self-serving message.

The gospel is meant for both Jews and gentiles. Both need the grace of Jesus and are invited to receive the forgiveness that he offers. In this passage, Paul will warn Christian converts from these two distinct backgrounds from falling back into their old religious systems.

At the moment we come to faith, there are dramatic changes that take place in the life of a Christian. These changes include a new title before God, a new way to live, a new way of relating to the world, and a new inheritance.

James and Paul both wrote letters in the New Testament, but when we consider their theology, they can appear to be preaching a different message. Paul says that justification is by faith alone. James says that faith without works is dead. In this message, we look at how the teachings of both men are true and point us to the gospel.

The law was given until Christ came into the world. It is by the law that our sin is revealed and it is the law which Jesus fulfilled.

Paul talks a lot about Abraham in Galatians 3. Earlier in this chapter, an emphasis from Paul was the faith of Abraham. In this chapter, Paul will talk about the covenant which the Lord had made with Abraham and how it was an unbreakable covenant. The reason why the covenant was unbreakable was because it was promised to the offspring of Abraham, and as Paul will show, Jesus is that ultimate offspring who secures this unbreakable covenant.

The law brings curses but the good news of the gospel is that Jesus is cursed so that those who could not follow the law can be blessed. Paul has already said that the law cannot save a person (Galatians 2:16), but in this passage, he explains why the law cannot save. Because we cannot follow it.

During Israel’s history, the Israelites had lost the promised land and the temple had been destroyed. In the Book of Haggai, they’ve returned to the land and 20 years have past. The Israelites have not yet started rebuilding the temple. They were putting their own wants and desires over the will of God. For Christians, we must start with God.

In this final message from our series: Christmas in Genesis, we see the consequences of the fall. Adam and Eve are exiled from the garden. All of humanity is born as exiles in a fallen world. With the incarnation of Christ, we see a savior who comes into the world as an exile so that he could bring redemption.

It’s a passage that gives us a glimpse of a perfect world before the fall. After the fall, it’s a passage that points us to a glimmer of hope in a newly fallen world as the good news of the gospel is proclaimed for the first time in scripture in Genesis 3:15. It sets forth a trajectory which will run throughout the rest of the Old Testament in the lead up to the Christ coming into the world.

From creation, we see that God had established a pattern for rest. Of the seven creation days, only the Sabbath is blessed by God. What the Lord has been given to us as a blessing is so often a challenge in a restless world. In today’s study, we also see the rest which Jesus provides.

In Genesis 1, we see that God made a good creation because God is good. Because of sin, that creation has been corrupted. Through the gospel, we see how creation and human lives are being restored.

In a dramatic story, Jesus raises a young girl from the dead, but it’s a passage where there’s more than meets the eye. It’s ultimately a story about two miracles, not just one. And we see Jesus as the giver of life but also pointing to a restoration that only he can bring.

As Paul continues to unpack the doctrine of justification by faith by its many facets, he points back to the great patriarch of the faith: Abraham, the man who was declared righteous because of his faith before the law had ever given. In that, we see that there has always been one way by which the Lord counts people righteous.

In this passage, Paul asks people who had responded in faith to the gospel would revert back to works and trying to earn salvation.

Jesus saves us because we cannot save ourselves. We so often struggle with the temptation in thinking that God’s love depends on what we do and how we live. But through the gospel, the grace is given to all who believe in Jesus.

Peter had withdrawn from fellowship with gentile Christians because they had not followed the law of the Old Testament. This was an affront to the gospel as Peter was guilty of adding requirements onto the gospel. It wasn’t because of a change of heart from Peter but it was because others had pressured him and he backed down in fear.

In a passage which might seem antiquated to our modern sensibilities, the apostles deal with a controversy in the early church that proved as a landmark case in understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul talks about his divine calling by God to be an apostle. In Paul’s story, we see both a unique man who was set aside for a divine task. But we also see a ministry that should ultimately be important to every Christian: spreading the gospel and fulfilling the Great Commission.

Guest preacher Steve Hall talks about Biblical chronology and the date of Exodus. 

Paul continues to defend the gospel that he’s preaching. In this passage, he points to his own testimony and we’re reminded that the great missionary and evangelist had once been a great opponent and persecutor of the gospel and its believers. Few things point to the power of the saving work of Christ like the inward transformation that Jesus works.

From guest preacher Trey Scheffer, Nicodemus approaches Jesus at night and learns that a person must be born again. 

Paul is addressing a significant controversy where people had infiltrated the churches in Galatia with a message which was contrary to the gospel.

The world is dead in sin but the gospel promises us another world. In Galatians 1, Paul talks of how Jesus has rescued Christians from “the present evil age.” We have been rescued and delivered for something else but we often still live so much like the rest of the world. Through the gospel, Jesus points us to a new life.

Paul continues his missionary activities through Galatia. By the end of this chapter, on Paul’s missionary journey, we had seen him travel to multiple cities with people coming to faith and others opposing the gospel. We see Paul minister to people of different faiths. We even see a mob try to stone Paul to death. In the end, Paul’s focus is on the Lord who had opened the door for his message to reach people.

We see Paul’s first missionary activity in the Galatian province as the apostle begins in a synagogue and explains to a Jewish audience how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. He speaks to the audience in terms they’ll understand and that is a lesson that all Christians can learn about evangelism. There is is one gospel but there is more than one way to share it.

Galatians is likely the earliest writing we have in the New Testament, authored by the Apostle Paul within about 10-20 years of the time Jesus walked the earth. In this message, we introduce Paul's letter to the Galatians and give some background information on this book.

It’s one of the best known passages of the entire Bible. The Ten Commandments. They form the basis for Judeo-Christian morality and God’s covenant with Moses. But we so often don’t do a good job of following these commands. That points us to our situation as sinful people but the good news of the gospel is that there is grace through Jesus Christ.

From his early success as king, chapter 13 is the beginning of the downfall of King Saul. the Bible is full of redemption stories. And for any person who has placed faith in Jesus, they’re a living testimony to Christ’s redemption. Sadly, Saul’s story is not one of redemption. His story is a downward spiral into sin, paranoia, and murder.

Guest preacher Steve Hall. 

In this passage, we see the high point of the reign of King Saul and the Israelites have the king that they had hoped for and all is well. At least for a little while. But this passage isn’t primarily about Saul, nor is it primarily about a battle between the Israelites and the Ammonites, but it’s about the God who saved his people and preserved the Promised Land.

Saul becomes the first king of Israel but we see from a rocky start, some foreshadowing of events to come.

In Luke 10, Jesus is invited to dine with two sisters: Martha and Mary. In the passage, we see that they have very different responses. One sits with Jesus and hears his teaching. The other busies herself trying to serve Jesus and gets stressed out from the work. Many of us can be guilty of this but it’s the first sister who has focused on the one necessary thing. It’s good to serve and use the gifts that God has given to build up his church, but that is not meant to come at our relationship with Jesus.

In 1 Samuel 8, the Israelites had demanded a king. In this ninth chapter, we are introduced to Saul, the man who would become the first king of Israel. From humble beginnings, we that Saul was chosen for this royal purpose but his story will also point forward to a greater king.

In the book of First Samuel, the Israelites had been in the Promised Land but had never had an earthly king. They hadn't needed one. God had been their king who had led and provided for his people. In this passage, the people demand that they have a king to be like all the other nations. They're warned that it will not ultimately be good for them but the people still insist.

For the final passage in the Gospel of John, how would you expect it to be written? A final prayer? A final miraculous sign from Jesus? A dramatic depiction of Christ ascending to heaven? We get none of that. It’s a simple passage where we see Jesus restoring Peter to his apostolic call and John testifying that he was a witness to Jesus.

Jesus provides a miracle for a group of disciples by providing a huge catch of fish for the group and then hosting them for a meal. In John, the ministry of Jesus begins and ends with meals and in this passage, we see it pointing forward to the mission of the church and the work that the disciples will do when Jesus is gone. 

Thomas missed the most important event in human history. Seeing the risen Jesus on the first Easter. Thomas is skeptical and demands to see Jesus. Amazingly, Jesus grants him this and Thomas responds in faith. While we can’t personally examine the risen Jesus, we too have evidence to believe that the resurrection is true.

In this passage, the risen Jesus appears to the disciples on the first Easter evening. Jesus is the one who brings peace because he is the one who was wounded for our forgiveness. And because of the gospel, for those who believe in Jesus, there is a new mission in the world as we go into the world as his people, enabled by the Spirit to spread the good news of the gospel of forgiveness to the world.
The mission is at the heart of this passage.

The risen Christ is a paradigm shift for the world. In this passage, we are pointed to the revolutionary newness of what comes with the risen Christ. In this passage, we look at the atonement, holiness and glory which were needed to approach the Lord and how all of that has been achieved through the cross. We also see a new ways to relate to Christ in light of the resurrection. 

At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, the risen Jesus commanded his disciples to go out into the world and to make disciples and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Churches disagree on virtually every aspect of how a baptism is done and what it means but one of the areas of agreement is that it is something which is important for all Christians.

The world likes to lift up its own goodness and believe that man can be made right with God based on his own goodness. The gospel shows us that we cannot be good enough on our own but that we have a savior who is and that God justifies us when we have faith in Christ. 

Joint easter service with Christian Bible Church and Grace Bible Church. 

The crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus on Good Friday. 

In this passage, Pontius Pilate goes through a range of emotions and opinions as he questions Jesus. He goes from mocking Jesus, to trying to pardon Jesus, to having Jesus flogged, to fearing Jesus, to proclaiming Jesus’ innocence, to ultimately having Jesus crucified. This passage also returns to the theme of kingship where we see that Jesus is the king who suffers.

Christ and the kingdom of God, Part 3

How is truth defined? Biblically, we see truth by looking to Jesus. As Pilate continues to question Jesus, Jesus will teach that he has a kingdom that is not of this world. Pilate misunderstands and Jesus will give the further clarification that Jesus has a kingdom which is based In truth which is comprised by those who follow the truth.

Christ and the Kingdom of God, Part 2 

In this passage, Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor as the Jewish council (the Sanhedrin) seeks his crucifixion. In this passage, Jesus will say that he has a kingdom which is not of this world while he’s being confronted by Pilate, a governor who is representing the Roman Empire.

Throughout the Bible, there is a developing theme of kingship. We see God as the sovereign over all creation in Genesis 1. We see Adam and Eve as his vice-regents who lose the kingdom with which God has entrusted them in Genesis 3. And throughout the Bible, there is a return to the kingdom and the promise for a coming king who will one day establish a throne with justice and righteousness.

This passage goes back and forth between two simultaneously occurring stories. You have Jesus arrested and taken before the high priest meanwhile Peter tries to follow Jesus, gets cold feet, and denies Jesus three times. It’s a contrast between Jesus standing up to the authorities to the truth of who he is and Peter folding and denying even knowing Jesus. It’s a passage about faith, our fallenness, and the savior who forgives.

This passage is a microcosm of the creation, fall, redemption that we see in the opening chapters of the Book of Genesis. Fittingly, Jesus is arrested in a garden. In the first garden, humanity sinned and brought forth death. But in this garden, Jesus will undo that curse and bring forth life as a result of his death at the hands of a sinful world.

Jesus points to the love and unity of himself and God and explains it as both a love that Christians are invited into and an evangelistic tool that the church has in reaching the world. The Church is the place where all are welcome to worship the living God and that is meant to be a community where all can feel loved and welcomed.

In this message, we talk about the mission of Christ and reaching the lost as Thad Bergmeier shares.

Just before his arrest, Jesus offers a prayer to God. In this section, Jesus will pray for the disciples and for their consecration. Jesus will also talk about the fulfillment of his ministry as he sends out his disciples to continue that work after he is no longer physically present in the world.

On the eve of going to the cross, Jesus makes the longest prayer we see recorded anywhere in the Bible. What does he pray for? Among other things, he begins his prayer by praying for his glory and that the Father would be glorified by what Jesus was about to do. This passage points us to the glory in prayer, the glory of the gospel, and the glory of God.

Jesus has given glimpses of what life will be like for the disciples - and ultimately for the church - after his death and resurrection. But in this passage, Jesus will give further clarification on the dramatically new paradigm that awaits. Jesus will point to a new way to pray, a new revelation, and a new type of peace.

It would seem that nothing could come from Jesus going to the cross, but in this passage, Jesus encourages the disciples and promises that from a time of great sorrow, there will be an even greater joy. Christians have the opportunity to experience joy today, the hope of a time of perfected joy, and the promise of a joy that will never be taken away.

Throughout the Gospel of John, we see Jesus pointing to the activity and ministry of the Holy Spirit. On the night before going to the cross, Jesus will give his last major teaching on the work of the Holy Spirit when he’s gone. We learn that the Spirit comes in fulfillment of God’s promises, he brings conviction of sin, and he points believers to truth.

Jesus gives a couple of warnings in this passage. The disciples will face persecution and hatred for following Jesus. Some will fall away, which is why Jesus gives this warning. He doesn’t want us to be oblivious to the cost of following him. Today and throughout history, Christians have faced opposition from the world.

In this passage, Jesus tells of the giving of the Holy Spirit who will witness to Christ after he’s gone. Jesus also tells the disciples that they themselves will be witnesses to Jesus in the early church. And this sets up a reminder for all of us today that we too are witnesses of Jesus I our lives.

Herod is the king of Israel, but when presented with the prospect that a new king has been born in his territory, he seeks to have Jesus killed. Even from the beginning of his ministry, we see that the world is inhospitable to its own savior. In our natural state, we're not so different from Herod. We live in a fallen world which also does not want to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus. 

The wise men come to Herod in seeking the King of the Jews. It’s so much woven into the Christmas story that it can be easy to overlook how bizarre the scene is, but the first people who seek out the newborn Jesus are pagan astrologers. There are different responses to this king. Some will seek him out, others will overlook him, and some will seek to destroy him. How do you respond?

In this passage, we see a young couple who have been given the most amazing piece of news anyone had ever been given. Despite being a virgin, Mary is going to carry the Christ child. In this passage, we see Joseph and Mary while Matthew points to a prophecy for the virgin birth of Jesus given hundreds of years before. We also see in this section who Jesus is and what Jesus does.

It’s an easy section in the Bible to skip over. The genealogy of Jesus at the beginning of Matthew. 42 names from Abraham to Jesus. It’s not a list meant to be skipped. It’s a picture of the history of God’s people in leading to the savior of the world benign born. It points us to the gospel, to the mission of God, to the power of God, and to the promises of God.

The first verse of the Gospel of Matthew can be easy to skim right over. “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” But this packed verse grounds Jesus in the Old Testament and begins the New Testament by pointing us to the history of God’s redemptive work.

After seeing many miraculous works of the Lord, the Israelites begin the next chapter in their Exodus saga. In these passages, we see some early challenges for the Israelites. How do they respond? Is it in faith in God’s goodness and provision? Quite the opposite. The Israelites turn to grumbling and doubt.

It’s perhaps the most significant event to happen to the people of God in the Old Testament: crossing over the Red Sea. In this story, we see a picture of the gospel, commands not to fear, and the dominion of a mighty God.

One of the most significant events in the Old Testament is the Lord striking dead the firstborn of all of the Egyptians. The Lord spared the Israelites from this judgment and commanded that they observe this act of deliverance in the day that became known as Passover. During the ministry of Jesus, Jesus will take two common elements from the Passover and point to his own sacrificial death on the cross.

Darkness. After eight plagues, and Pharaoh’s continued refusal to release the Israelites, the Lord brings a plague of darkness. Darkness would have been totally crippling in the ancient world. The darkness shows an undoing of creation as God takes away the light that he brought forth. zIt also undermined the most venerated of the Egyptian deities in the lead up to the final and most severe plague.

After having received seven judgments from the Lord in the form of plagues, the Lord brings an eighth plague of locusts against the Egyptians and against Pharaoh for refusing to release the Israelites. Locust plagues still happen today and can be ecological disasters.

Why were there ten plagues? It can so often be so easy to ask why God does the things he does. But in this passage, he gives a reason: his glory in the world. All people will ultimately bring God glory, either through by his grace through Christ or through his righteous and holy judgment. Pharaoh is given numerous warnings about the plagues which will befall him but continues to disobey the Lord. In this passage, we see a seventh plague when the Lord brings hail.

In spite of all of the plagues and divine signs, we continue to see Pharaoh’s refusal to be obedient to the Lord in freeing the Israelites. As we look at the fifth and sixth plagues, we see an intensification of the Lord’s judgment upon Egypt.

In this passage, we continue in the Exodus plagues and see the Lord continue to show his power and dominion while Pharaoh continues to rebel and refuse to listen to the Lord as the people continue to suffer the consequences.

In this passage, we see a clash of world views as Pharaoh is commanded to release the Israelites. When he refuses, the first of the ten plagues befalls Egypt. Pharaoh was viewed as a quasi-divine person in Egypt, but we see he's no match for the Lord, nor are the Egyptian pantheon a match for the Lord's plagues which shows his dominion over nature and over life and death. 

The Exodus is the seminal event of the Old Testament. In this message, we look at the first four chapters of Exodus as the Lord calls an unlikely figure to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.

As the world opposed Jesus, it also opposes his followers. Truly living for Christ, living for the gospel, standing up for Jesus, and sharing the good news will result in friction. At times, we don't face opposition in America because we aren't boldly living out our faith. 

Jesus is the eternal God of the universe, but on the eve of going to the cross, he tells his followers something profound: we are his friends. Jesus came to befriend a world who were enemies of God. We see his ultimate act of service and friendship in gong to the cross, but we also see a savior who calls his friends to be friends and make friends to introduce to our friend, Jesus.

How do I make things right with God? That’s a common question that we can ask when we’ve sinned. In this passage, James paints a bleak picture of the destructive sins and covetousness which can plague a church, but he ends on a hopeful note of pointing us to principles of turning to God and away from sin. Ultimately it is through the death of Jesus - and that alone - that we are made right with God. This passage points us to the practical aspects of living for Jesus.

What happens when we live for Jesus? In this passage, Jesus makes four affirmations of what results from abiding (remaining/living) in him. When we abide in Christ, we are delivered from judgment, there is power in our prayers, it brings glory to God, and there is joy.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul calls Christians to rejoice in their sufferings. It’s a message that is counterintuitive within society and (often) within the church. Suffering is an unavoidable part of life. But for the Chrisitan, we should rejoice that it is always for a purpose.

Jesus is the true vine and his church are the branches which are meant to bear good fruit on the vine. In this wonderful image, we're pointed to the life that Jesus has for his followers. 

All throughout John 14, Jesus has been telling his disciples what to expect when he’s gone. In this final verse of this section, we see something of a Last Will and Testament where Jesus will talk of the Holy Spirit, his Word, the peace that he gives, while pointing to the providence of God in all that Jesus has done.

In Luke 15, while Jesus is talking to the spiritually downtrodden and the religious elites, we see three parables of finding that which was lost. A lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. These all point us to the gospel and the love that God has for us. But in a twist, the final parable has a message for those who live self-righteously.

Message preached by Trey Scheffer and Josh Benner.

On the eve of going to the cross, and aware of the horrors which awaited, Jesus turned his focus to the disciples and his provision for them. Jesus promised not to leave them as orphans but would instead come again and would also impart the Holy Spirit to his believers.

Prayer is something that most Americans say they do daily, yet it’s a vibrant prayer life that is a challenge for many. In this message, we look at the purpose of prayer and the transformative impact it can have in the life of a believer.

The gospel is a message that offends the world and Christians can sometimes be tempted to water down the message. But as Paul begins his letter to the Romans, he says “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” This passage gives a great summary of the gospel while also telling us who it’s for and how it works.

In this passage, Jesus tells disciples that those who believe in him will do greater works than he has done. But how can that be? It is because of Jesus and his ministry that the church has been enabled to have a worldwide ministry of reaching people with the good news of the gospel. This ministry is something that all Christians are called upon to share in and take part in.

As we continue in Jesus’ conversation with Philip, he points to the works that he is doing in response to Philip’s plea for Jesus to “show us the Father.” Throughout his ministry, Jesus did miraculous works which point to his divinity and glory. And the Lord is still working in the world today.

Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.

This is the plea from Philip on the night before Jesus was crucified. It's a request that many of us can relate to. Wanting God to feel just a little bit easier to reach. This passage reminds us that Jesus is the ultimate disclosure who reveals the Lord to the world. 

We often reduce the Christian life to a list of rules. Do’s and don’ts. But in Galatians 5, Paul calls upon Christians to walk and live by the Spirit and talks of the fruits of that Spiritual life.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are not commands here. They’re the byproduct of a Spirit-filled walk.

With the cross on the horizon, Jesus tells the disciples “do not let your heart be troubled.” That is a command which is easier said than done. But Jesus isn’t calling us to stoicism but to a faith that is grounded in the truth of God and the hope of heaven through the savior of the world who provides the way there.

Jesus taught a world who killed him how to love. That was the message he had for his disciples as the glorification of Christ began. Love is not only what Christ calls all of his disciples to but it is also the thing which shows our commitment to Christ to the rest of the world.

It’s the Last Supper, and Jesus has told the disciples that one from among their ranks will betray him. We read the story from a third person perspective and know all of the details, but in this message, we attempt to look at the story from the perspective of the disciples who have no idea it’s Judas who’s about to betray the Lord.

In a shocking display of humility, Jesus does something that never would have expected in his society: he washed feet, the most menial and looked down upon task that a person could take. But as we study this passage, we learn that this passage points ultimately to the cross.

John 12:44-50 represents the conclusion the major section of John's Gospel which covers the public ministry of Jesus (also known as "The Book of Signs"). In this section, Jesus says nothing new, but reiterates important themes found throughout this gospel.

As the public ministry of Jesus winds down, we see an important message that the gospel and the work of Christ is not just for Israel, but for the whole world. We also see the mission of Christ in uniting people to Christ through his glorification on the cross.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in human history. Bar none. In Matthew's gospel, we see the risen Christ and try to answer the questions of why we can believe in the resurrection and how we can respond. 

On the cross, we see the cost of our sin, the love of God, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

A week before the first Easter, Jesus enters Jerusalem with the crowds chanting and declaring him a king. But on Friday, crowds would be changing "crucify." Jesus comes into Jerusalem for a final time and for one ultimate purpose: to die. 

Humility and devotion. This is what we see as Mary anoints Jesus with incredibly expensive oil and she humbles herself by cleaning the feet of Jesus. 

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. In this passage, in the closing weeks of his ministry, we see Jesus give life to his friend Lazarus. And in the process, the Pharisees double down on their own efforts to see Jesus crucified. It's fitting. Jesus gives life to Lazarus

John's gospel really highlights the barrage of attacks that Jesus faced from the pharisees. In this interaction, we see that Jesus is the Christ who is one with God and the salvation which comes through him.

In a powerful metaphor, Jesus proclaims that he is the good shepherd. Domesticated sheep cannot survive on their own without a shepherd. They depend on shepherds for leading and protecting them. It is also true for Christians that we depend on Jesus, our good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.

In this passage, Jesus heals a man born blind. An incredible miracle. The religious leaders refuse to appreciate this miracle or accept the savior who performed it. This miracle is meant to point to a greater reality. The world is blind. Blind to Christ, blind to the gospel, blind to our own sin. Jesus came to open our eyes to reality.

In a paternal dispute, Jesus points the pharisees to his father, while they try to argue that Abraham is their father. It's a passage steeped in heavenly language as the pharisees continue to miss Jesus' point, who he is, and his warning.

Jesus is the light of the world. He is the only way of righteousness and the only way to God. In this passage, we again see people opposing Jesus, and not realizing who he is. The reasons they don't believe are the same reasons people don't believe today. They don't want to believe, they don't want to accept the truth, and they don't want to acknowledge their need for grace.

There are two ways to go in life. The way of wisdom and the way of foolishness. In this passage, James talks about what Godly wisdom and the fruit it produces.

In this passage, we see meals for God's people past, present, and future. In the past, the Israelites celebrated Passover where a special meal commemorated God's work of delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. During his ministry, Jesus called the church to celebrate communion in remembrance of him. the Bible tells of a future wedding feast where Jesus will serve as the host. 

Evangelism can be a daunting task for many Christians, but it's something that God calls his people to do. In this passage, we learn important insights from Paul into how to evangelize people.

We live in a society that is increasingly divided though political and social issues. But sadly, churches too often mirror the combativeness of our world. This is not the way churches are supposed to be. Christian churches are called to pursue unity and humility.

As we begin a new year, we discuss personal holiness. As Christians, God calls his people to be holy as our God is holy.

In these final chapters of the Book of Esther, the wicked Haman who had plotted against the Jews has faced justice for his deeds, but there’s a problem. The edict that he issued against the Israelites is still binding. Here, Esther goes to advocate on behalf of her people.

The tables turn in this passage in a scene with such heavy irony that it creates a funny scene where the wicked Haman goes from a high ranking official in the empire to the king’s enemy.

Esther is the Queen of Persia, but she’s kept a secret: she’s Jewish. In this section, a plot of genocide is launched against the Israelites. Esther will have to risk her own life, but she alone is in a position to intervene. Message from Christian Bible Church, preached by Josh Benner. 

A king throws a great feast, but when the queen refuses to be on public display, he banishes her and seeks a new queen. Through that event, God will put an Israelite on the throne of a pagan nation while a threat to the Jews looms on the horizon.

Darkness. It’s a common fear in children (and adults). It brings the unknown and the unseen. The Bible teaches that the world is in darkness, due to sin. In this passage, Jesus teaches that he is the light of the world.

A woman caught in adultery and a mob has brought her before Jesus and confronts him with a dilemma: law or grace? When we dig into this passage, we discover that it might not be what we think at first glance.

2020 has been a year of tumultuous situations. Psalm 46 calls us to trust in God, regardless of what we face. God is depicted as a refuge and a warrior going before his people into battle, before reminding us of God’s greatest promise: the he will be with us.

In this passage, we see several differing opinions about Jesus and who he is. But we also see this play out in the modern world. Jesus is  compelling figure. Some worship him as Lord, others are indifferent, and some are hostile to the gospel. In this passage, we see all of these groups interacting with each other but the solution to the conflict is Jesus himself.

Jesus invites those who are thirsty to come to him. It’s the perfect metaphor. We all know what it’s like to be thirsty on a hot day. The world is severely dehydrated and needs what only Jesus can offer.

Providence. It’s one of the great themes that runs throughout the Bible, through human history, through the events of our lives and the gospel itself. In this passage, we see the providence of God in the ministry of Christ, in sending Jesus, and in the gospel.

You can’t get God right if you get Jesus wrong. In this passage, we see a crowd who is intrigued by Jesus but he points to the Old Testament that they don’t understand.

The Day of Atonement was the most holy of days in the Jewish calendar. It was the only time of the year when the High Priest would enter the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle to atone for the sins of the people. For Christians, this is a passage and a day worth understanding because everything associated with this day points us to Christ. Jesus atones for our sins by being the perfect sacrifice and he also takes our sins away from us.

One of the great Jewish festivals is approaching and Jesus’ brothers suggest that he go up to Jerusalem to reveal his ministry to the crowds, but Jesus has his attention set on a different feast.

There are lots of reasons why people are drawn to Jesus, but not all of them are good. In this passage, we see true discipleship, false discipleship, and fake discipleship.

Throughout John 6, we see Jesus feeding multitudes, then we see him declare that he is the bread of life, before the bread theme comes to its culmination and Jesus ties bread to salvation.

So many things that happen in life are underwhelming and don't live up to the hype. And perhaps the disappointment of the world influence our expectations of heaven. Heaven is not an internal church service, nor is it spending the rest of time on a cloud in a robe, playing the harp. Heaven is a perfect restoration of a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem. It is the presence of God. 

When Jesus saves us, he saves us entirely. He promises eternal life. And the Bible repeatedly teaches that it is a work which the Lord will bring to completion.

If we are justified by faith, does it matter how we live? This week, we look at the balance between faith and works in the Christian life. 

The son of God died so we could be God’s sons.  Through the gospel, there are many gracious things that God does in the lives of believers. He forgives us of our sins. He sanctifies us by His Spirit. He prepares a place for us in heaven. Tremendous blessings from God. But the gospel is also fundamentally relational. When we come to faith in God, we become members of God’s family. We are adopted as God’s children. And we are enabled to approach the Almighty creator of the universe as our “father.”

Few things showcase the power of the gospel like the work of sanctification which God does through his people. In this week’s message, we look at the theology of sanctification.

We are justified by Christ but the Holy Spirit plays an important role in our salvation as it is through the Spirit that we are born again, regenerated. The Spirit renews us, gives us a new heart, and enables us to follow God’s Laws.

We so often struggle with the temptation in thinking that God’s love depends on what we do and how we live. But through the gospel, the grace is given to all who believe in Jesus.

We so often focus on our physical needs and what’s in front of us. But Jesus came to satisfy the world’s great Spiritual need. That we are dead in sin and in need of a savior.

A crowd is following Jesus because he fulfilled a physical need but they miss the greater reality that Jesus came to take care of a Spiritual need.

It’s perhaps the most significant event to happen to the people of God in the Old Testament: crossing over the Red Sea. In this story, we see a picture of the gospel, commands not to fear, and the dominion of a mighty God.

Alone at sea after hours of sailing, the disciples see a figure approaching. They’re terrified, but don’t realize that it’s Jesus himself who’s approaching. The most commonly given command in the Bible is to fear not, but this is never commanded in isolation. We’re told not to fear because of who God is. As his people, instead of turning to fear uncertain situations, we are called to trust the Lord.

It’s the only miracle that Jesus does in all four gospels and it leaves people wanting to make Jesus their king and declaring that he’s the great prophet to which the Old Testament pointed. Jesus feeds thousands of people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. And he has leftovers! It’s an incredible sign that Jesus does that shows his power, but it also shows that Jesus has come to fulfill the Old Testament in leading his people in a new Exodus of forgiveness from sin.

Sometimes we might wonder how the Bible all works? In our passage today, we discuss that from start to finish, the Bible is about Jesus. It points to Jesus, tells about his ministry and gospel. Jesus is the key who unlocks the Bible. In our passage today, Jesus interacts with a group who knew a lot about the Bible but they missed the most important teaching.

After losing their land and seeing the temple destroyed, Israel was allowed to return 70 years later. But where Haggai begins, it’s 20 years after the rerun and the people have yet to begin the new temple. As churches resume services today, it’s easy to focus on the accomplishment of being together again but we have work to do in building up God’s temple, the church.

Throughout history, many have claimed to be the Messiah. In John 5, Jesus presents three witnesses which point to his identity.

Our world loves justice. From the movies we watch, the TV shows we watch, how sports are officiated, we love it when the right thing happens. But in the world, justice often does not work on the timeline we would prefer. What this passage teaches us is that one thing that all humans who have ever lived and will ever live have in common is that we will all one day stand before Christ in judgment.

In this highly theological passage, four affirmations are made which will point to the divinity of Jesus.

In the opening verses of the Book of Habakkuk, the prophet takes a lament to God when he sees the sin and wickedness around him. It can be easy to be disillusioned with all of the evil and hurt in our world. One mistake that Christians too often make is being stoic. We can bring out struggles to God. He knows and he’s working amazing things through the difficulties.

In this passage, Jesus will make a radical claim about God. That he is his father. But how does Jesus, who is eternal, have a father? And how does God have a son?

In this passage, Jesus heals a man who’s been an invalid for 38 years. But it also exposes various avenues that people try to pursue for finding life. For some, it’s superstitions, for others, it’s obedience. Both ultimately fail. It is through Jesus that we find life, holiness, and ultimate healing.

The world often times wants to be Spiritually dazzled. God can and does use grand moments to bring people to himself, but that cannot be the entire basis of our faith. In this passage, we see a miracle that Jesus does where a father of a dying son must simply trust Jesus and take him at his word.

In this sermon, we look at an early evangelist in the ministry of Jesus: a woman from Samaria. In this passage, we see an unlikely missionary, man’s meaning in life, a time of harvest, and a personal savior. In this passage, Jesus tells his disciples that it’s a time of harvest. Today, with growing secularism, religious apathy, and a healthcare pandemic, it is our prayer that this season can also be a time of harvest and revival in America.

We so often make our contentment and joy dependent on our circumstances, however those are always changing and are out of our control. The one thing that is eternally unchanging is the Lord. 

Every generation gives the church moments to rise to the occasion, to show love, to support others, to serve, and to share the good news of the gospel. As our nation and world fight coronavirus, we are in that moment. How will it define who you are and what kind of Christian you will be? 

Jesus brings total renewal and transformation into the world. He's the Lord of new life and new creation. In this passage, we see three areas which are transformed through the ministry of Jesus: our revelation of God, our access to God, and our worship of God. 

Today, we look at two stories from John. Jesus meeting Nicodemus and Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman. These two people are different in every way: he's an expert in the Law, she's sinful; he seeks out Jesus, she stumbles upon Jesus; he's prestigious, she's from a hated group. They're different in every way but one, and that way is what unites us all: a need for Jesus and the salvation he offers. 

It's often said that "the customer is always right," but what about when churches take this idea into worship? Every week, churches in America display worship that revolves more around entertainment than reverence. Our question with worship is not how we want to worship but how God wants us to worship him. 

The Great Commission is not simply a call to evangelize, but to make disciples. Christians are called to be disciples who make disciples of Jesus Christ. In this message, we focus on the life-cycle of a disciple: becoming a disciple, making disciples, and growing as a disciple. 

They say we shouldn't talk religion or politics, but talking about our faith, living as witnesses to Christ, and sharing the gospel is a call for all Christians. 

 A relationship with Jesus is personal but it is not private. Christians need each other. The people of God who share in a united faith in the life, death, and resurrection need each other in a world that does not believe the gospel. Fellowship can be an easy blindspot, but there's more depth behind this type of community than simply being nice to be at church on Sunday mornings. The goal is authentic Christian community where there are meaningful relationships and where people are known. 

Why are we here? Ever Christian is given gifts by God to serve him and serve his church. We're not here just for ourselves, we're here for more than that. We're here to serve the mission of God in the world. 

It's easy to say that Jesus is your savior, but are you living as if he's your Lord? Jesus calls us to follow him with an urgent task, serving the Kingdom of God on earth. 

Prayer is a gift of God's grace which gives us the opportunity to approach him and grow in a relationship with him. In this message, we look at four categories of prayer: adoration, confession, supplications, and thanksgiving, each of which is integral to a healthy prayer life and knowing God. 

The Bible's longest chapter is dedicated to the Word and Law of God. In this message, we kick off the new decade by looking at 12 things Psalm 119 teaches us about the Word of God. 

In this Old Testament passage, we see a fresh reminder to put God first in our lives. Israel had been freed to rebuild the temple, but 20 years had gone by and they had put their own lives as a bigger priority than honoring the Lord. 

After spending several weeks looking at passages which foretell Jesus as the promised Immanuel, God with us, we come to the story of his birth, when God literally came to be with us. In that, we see the love, grace, and forgiveness of God. 

Through all of the darkness of sin and rebellion for Israel, God points forward to a future divine figure who can be nothing less than God with his people. 

In Isaiah 7, the prophet foretells a time of divine judgment for Israel, Syria, and eventually Judah. He gives the sign of Immanuel, which ultimately points to Christ. In Isaiah 8, another baby is born who is the first fulfillment of the Immanuel prophecy and shows the impending judgment at the doorstep of sinful kingdoms, but also gives a promise of hope to God’s chosen people in Judah.

Ahaz is a corrupt king in Judah. At a time of war and unrest, Ahaz is offered a sign by God and he turns it down. God gives him the sign of Immanuel which will be relevant both in Isaiah's day and at the advent of Christ. 

In this passage, we begin to study the Old Testament background of the Immanuel prophecy in the Gospel of Matthew. Seven centuries before, at perhaps the most tumultuous time in the history of Israel, this prophecy was given to the King of Judah at a time of civil war and regional tensions. In the first part of this four part series, God offers to give a sign to the king, but the king turns down the Lord's offer. 

People are different and the ways we interact with people should be different. For the Apostle Paul, he shares an important concept of ministry: all things to all people.

In this passage, we see that Jesus speaks with divine authority because he himself is divine. 

The only chapter in the Bible where we see an overlap in the ministries of Jesus and John the Baptist. John's disciples notice that Jesus is drawing bigger crowds and are tempted to be jealous of the Lord's ministry. From John, we learn an important lesson in humility. 

The human condition is that we are fallen and sinful. We love our sin more than we love God, but the good news of the gospel is that we have a good God who so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

We continue to examine a conversation between Jesus and a religious teacher named Nicodemus who has come to find out more about this man. Jesus gives the command to be born again. This Spiritual rebirth is necessary for admittance into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus has authority to command this when it is he who was lifted up on the cross. 

Jesus is approached by an expert in the law named Nicodemus who has seen his signs. He’s intrigued by Jesus. Jesus tells him that a person must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God.

The early ministry of Jesus continues as he cleanses the temple. A sacred place has been corrupted but we see that Jesus is the true temple who brings us into the presence of God. 

Jesus performs his first sign which manifests his glory. It’s an odd introduction to a ministry but it’s an important catalyst to the disciples believing in Jesus. He’s the one who turns water into wine, the Lord of the feast, and the bringer of a greater covenant.

Jesus meets some of his earliest disciples and we see several significant affirmations made about the Lord. He is the Lamb of God, the Christ, the one to whom the scriptures point, and the Son of God and King of Israel.

In this passage, we explore the ministry of John the Baptist, a man who has one purpose: pointing to Jesus.

As this passage echoes one of the greatest sins of the Old Testament, we are reminded of the grace of God throughout the Bible, most notably the grace that we receive through Jesus.

The divinity of Jesus is an essential element of his gospel but his humanity is just as important. Jesus is fully God and fully man. In this passage, we see that the Lord of creation entered into creation.

The opening verses of the Gospel of John make several powerful affirmations about Jesus: he’s eternal, he exists in fellowship with God, he is God, and he made everything.

Introductory sermon to the Gospel of John. Jesus is the Lord of creation and new creation. He’s bringing restoration into the world through the gospel and he brings new life into the lives of those who believe in him.