Recent Articles and Sermons

By Debra Downey

We have such a deep rich history with 20 centuries of beautiful hymns that has been passed down to us, from generation to generation.  Hymnody is the study of our hymns and should be periodically touched on in conferences. One of my research books had this in the preface: “In each era, creative people have offered their gifts to the Lord, shared by congregations and passed on. So as we worship, we are entering an ongoing song, composed long before our time and continuing into eternity.” 

Contents:

• Music History
• Early Influential Hymnodists
• Interesting background stories on some well known hymns

by Rev. James Jester

Sept 8, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: II Peter 1:1-8

Peter’s second letter emphasizes again holy living, just as in his first letter. But in this second letter he warns of the false prophets, who were barely mentioned in the first letter (ref. I Pet. 4:5). So, in this second letter he stresses in greater detail, the kind of people who are trying to teach false doctrine to the churches of Asia Minor.

Certain people were teaching that salvation freed Christians from the necessity of living a holy life. They twisted Paul’s doctrine of salvation by grace to support their position. Since they believed it was all right to sin, they naturally mocked at the idea of Christ’s return in judgment. For their own personal gain they lured people by promising them that they could be Christians and still live immoral lives. Peter writes to counter these false teachings and their influence on the lives of Christians. He is concerned that there be a check against false teaching even after he is gone.

By: Garry Maddux

September 1, 2024

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:6-9

God has brought a purifying fire into my life many times. What a change this made! We will explore the concept of "fire" in the Bible:

• How it symbolizes trials,
• How it symbolizes God's presence,
• How it symbolizes purification,
• How it symbolizes judgment.

by Rev. Jim Jester

August 25, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: I Peter 1:3-12

What did the prophets know and speak about concerning the coming Redeemer of Israel? And what did the angels desire to investigate? Let us take a brief overview of the last 3 verses of our Scripture Reading:

“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired” (v 10):A system of faith, securing the salvation of the soul, would be revealed. This hope of the prophets seems to lead them to value the faith they professed more highly, and to encourage them to bear their trials with patience. The prophets saw from a distance somewhat vaguely, and were obliged to search that they might understand the nature of that system. They sought out with care the revelations made to them, that they might understand exactly what was implied,because they were appointed to write about the salvation which was to be made known through the Messiah.

By Walter Giddings

August 18, 2024

Featured Scripture: Romans 14:5

Why is Paul the Apostle so willing to let conviction be a personal matter?  Are we supposed to adhere to the local body’s Statement of Beliefs?  Or is The Bible our Statement of Beliefs?  As we are Pilgrims and Strangers here, is the Battle for the mind of Adam?!  Was this true for Adam and Eve?  Was the Woman fully persuaded to switch Trees, and to eat the Fruit thereof?  Did the woman fully persuade Adam to eat the Fruit thereof?  Did she get the Fruit from the Tree?  Did Adam get the Fruit from Her?  Does failure to answer these questions produce confusion!  Does “…Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” leave us at the mercy of the Serpent?  Or does Paul the Apostle clearly see what is at stake?  Is Holy Spirit power of conviction at stake?  (Romans 14:5).  Should we look at the context of our featured scripture? 

By Pastor Don Elmore

August 11, 2024

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 17:15

Who may the Israelites set over them;  an individual who is not their brother or a person who is their brother? The verse says that they mayest not set a stranger (foreigner) over them!

What is Kamala's racial make-up? What race is she? Is she black? The Democratic Party has for its presidential candidate an Irish/Hindu Indian (with maybe a little bit of black) with a husband who has committed adultery with his first wife and is antichristian (Jew). Her vice-president is a very liberal politician who is a lukewarm Lutheran, who has never read, and probably ever knew, of Luther’s book that he wrote near the end of his life.

Her opponent, Donald J. Trump, has his eldest daughter, who has converted to the Talmudic religion and is married to a member of an important antichristian family, Jared Kushner. His vice-president, JD Vance is married to a Hindu Indian and he has three mulatto children. What a complete mess. In a supposedly Christian Protestant nation!

by Rev. James Jester

August 4, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: John 3:25-30

INTRODUCTION

In my last sermon, “Baptism in Context,” I briefly mentioned about the baptizing that was done by John; so, in this sermon I wanted to examine that topic a little further. From that sermon I had said:

“What immersionists seem to forget, is that John’s baptism was still under the Old Testament system, which of course, Jesus Christ had to fulfill as role of priest for His people. At this time, the law required this ‘washing’ (baptism) of Jesus.”

It is obvious that John the baptizer knew something about the ritual “washings” under the Old Covenant, for he lived during this time when the Judeans used water to purify themselves ceremonially; as we see by the words “ritual purification” in our text (v. 25).

Of course, John urged the Judeans to repent, for he knew that unclean people could not ultimately clean themselves, except only in a limited sense. He also rebuked the Pharisees (Edomite jews)

by Bill Perry

July 28, 2024

Opening Scripture: Ezekiel 37:15-22

And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke ascended from the pit like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air had become darkened from the smoke of the pit.   Revelation 9:2

The cloud that came from the pit when Satan and his demon seed were released, was a massive cloud of deception and confusion. This cloud over our reasoning ability was the concealment of our own history, the understanding of who we really are, and our purpose for being.  It was also to conceal the evil and vile essence of Satan, and the creatures of his demonic lineage, who have been our sworn enemy from the start of this Earth age.

The essence of him, and who they are is what they are.  They are the very essence of indescribable evil.  They were released for a season, but to kill, steal, and destroy.

The ever billowing stench from the cloud of their lies, causes continual confusion, perversion, and all manner of temptation, seduction and fear to the Father's children if they are not grounded in the Word of Truth.  This is the evil from the pit of hell and it has the world in its controlling clutches.

Be strong in Yahweh, and in the power of His might?  Yes but;  Know who you are.

“Neither were they stedfast in his covenant”

By Walter Giddings

July 21, 2024

Featured Text: Psalms 78:32-39

Reading Psalm 78:10-11:  How well has Israel, in History, performed as Covenantkeepers?  “They kept not the covenant of God”!!  Did we hear what we read?  Does that sound good?!!  The Reading of The Word of God, in unison, or responsively, is always a good exercise in Unity.  There was nothing wrong with our reading.  It is the Words.  The Words are bad news in Israel and to Israel! 

by Pastor Don Elmore

July 21, 2024

I read a comment on Jim’s post that was made by Chuck Miller. It said, ‘we now have the papacy and a Hindu.” I did a little bit of investigation of this is what I came up with.

Discussion of the background of the 2024 presidential candidates and their running mates.