Sermon Archives Page

ABOUT BAPTISM

by Pastor Jim Jester

January 26, 2020

Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:11-12

Introduction

If you ask a dozen Christians what is the meaning of baptism, you will get many different answers. Even among Protestant churches, one will get differing opinions on the meaning, purpose and mode of the alleged “ordinance” of Baptism. Some churches have split over these issues, or whether to observe the custom at all. The same can be said of the Eucharist (or Communion/Lord’s Supper). But are these symbolic practices, commonly called “the Sacraments”, really necessary?

Furthermore, we should ask, are these Sacraments necessary for what? Are they necessary for spiritual growth, or, for any kind of salvation? I realize that I am entering a controversial area of theology and some may disagree with what I have to say on this topic, but that is ok – we have liberty here. I hope these studies will answer such questions.

by Pastor Jim Jester

A two part Series on the Sacraments. A proxy ritual is not needed.

IMAGE - PART 1

by Walt Giddings

Greetings kindred. We are on a first name basis here. My name is Walter. I am your pedagogue whose mission is to lead you to the Real Teacher. Is one of the marks of a Christian his capacity to see the invisible? Is this strange to an unbelieving world? Direct from Romans 1:20 we have this blessed assurance. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.” This fifth Bible Biology lesson may be the most invisible.

Scripture Reading:  Genesis 1:26-28

v. 28: The dominion covenant, we recall, received a major interruption in Genesis chapter three: Adam fell. Heaven and earth separated, losing oneness. Adam became a prisoner of time, fell into the image of the earthy, becoming mortal, his eyes now holden, an invisible realm no longer visible to him. Without divine intervention Adam can no longer see into what is now invisible to him. This presents in this lesson some difficulty.

vv. 26-27: We have two words, both mentioned three times. The first is God. The second is our lesson title : Image. These two verses emphasize the creation of Adam “in the image of God.” (v 26) “after our likeness.” Where is the likeness? Was Adam also created “in the likeness of God?” (Genesis 5:1). Here in verse one, God’s infallible Word, our question is answered. “In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him.” Why does God wait to tell us that “He created to make” His son Adam in his own likeness?

Why are we told all the way over in chapter five? There is a reason.

by James Jester

Isn’t it Ironic?

January is often referred to as "Generals Month" since no less than four famous Confederate Generals claimed January as their birth month: James Longstreet (Jan. 8, 1821), Robert E. Lee (Jan. 19, 1807), Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (Jan. 21, 1824), and George Pickett (Jan. 28, 1825). It is ironic that MLK day sits between two of these birthdays: Lee and Jackson. I have the dream that one day our country will return to God’s Law and honor the leaders that have actually made the country originally great.

THE DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

January 12, 2020

Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:29, 30

Here are two competing grains in these two verses: tares and wheat.  One is evil, the other is good. The instructions given to the gatherers is to gather the tares first, bind them in bundles and burn them; but the wheat gather them into His barn. But they had to wait until the proper time—the harvest. Why? So, the reapers could tell them apart. Notice, the tares are to be taken first.

This was God’s warning to the Israelites through his general Joshua that if they let the Canaanites remain in the land of Palestine, they would no longer be driven out from before them. They would be snares, traps, scourges and thorns to the Israelites. The enemy would provide the harm that would result from Israel’s disobedience to keep them living in the land that they were promised.

DOES AMERICA HAVE THE BEST GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD?

Compiled from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

January 5, 2020

Scripture Reading:  2 Samuel 1:13-16

Who was the stranger that David had killed for testifying that he had slain King Saul, the LORD’s anointed? He was an Amalekite. Who was an Amalekite? He was a descendant of Amalek, grandson of Esau, who was part of the Canaanites. So, it was the descendant of Esau and the Canaanites who said that he murdered the LORD’s anointed—the king of Israel. Remember, this was something that the future king refused to do, even when he had the opportunity.

In a recent speech, Nancy Pelosi said some confusing things. For example, she said that America had formed a new government, a republic, starting with “We the people.” Then she said, “For centuries Americans have fought and died to defend democracy for the people. But, very sadly now, our founders’ vision of a republic is under threat from actions from the white house.”

And it wasn’t just the speaker of the House. It was many of the Democrats, when they spoke they said in one breathe that we were a republic and in another that we were a democracy. The two words were used interchangeably, and the meaning was the same.

But they are not interchangeable.  Benjamin Rush (signor of the Declaration of Independence) said that “a democracy was the devil’s own government.”

by James N. Jester

December 29, 2019

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 16:14-18

Introduction

This could be considered a follow-up sermon on the recent series I did on Israelite migrations.

Ah, fishing and hunting, two very popular sports diversions to help the working man or woman escape the stresses of everyday life. They are also good survival skills too. Fishing is the easiest, but hunting sometimes can be a little more difficult. We can also see this difficulty in relation to the captivity of Israel, which of course, precipitated the dispersion of Israel and Judah throughout Asia and Europe.

In my previous series of sermons, we traced much history about the migrations of Israel. The armies of Tiglath-Pileser III, Shalmaneser V, Sargon II, Esarhaddon, Sennacherib, and Nebuchadnezzar, found that their attack upon Israel was sometimes easy, much as a fishing net would easily capture large amounts of fish. On the other hand, there were times when the invader, as a hunter after his prey, would have to seek out those people who had hidden from him in the mountains and caves or other places.

THE STUART FAMILY

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

December 22, 2019

2 Chronicles 23:11-13

These are three verses that tell of the climax of some of the wild things that happened in the royalty of both Judah and Israel. Briefly stated, Athaliah was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel. Athaliah was married to Jehoram of Judah to seal a treaty between the two kingdoms. In addition, to further secure his position, her husband, Jehoram, murdered his six brothers. Jehoram became king of Judah in the fifth year of Jehoram of Israel’s reign. Both kings of the two kingdoms had the same name--Jehoram.

Jehoram of Judah reigned for eight years and after his death Ahaziah, his son, became king of Judah. Athaliah was the queen mother. Ahaziah reigned for only one year and was killed during a state visit to Israel along with Jehoram of Israel. It was a double assassination of both kings by Jehu. Jehu also killed Athaliah’s entire extended family in Samaria to death, ending the Omri dynasty in Israel.

Upon hearing the news of the massacre of her family and the death of the two kings, Athaliah seized the throne of Judah and ordered the execution of all possible claimants to the throne. Her sister managed to rescue from the purge a one-year old boy, Jehoash, who was raised in secret by her husband, the priest named Jehoiada. As queen, Athaliah used her power to establish the worship of Baal in Judah. Six years later, Athaliah was surprised when Jehoiada revealed that Jehoash lived and proclaimed him King of Judah. She rushed to stop the rebellion but was captured and executed.

What a story. Murders, assassinations, abuses of power, marriages to seal treaties, corruptions, hidden coronation, charges of treason… “there is nothing new under the sun.” In my last sermon I talked about how the Jews got back into England after being banned for almost 400 years. What a story that was. Today’s sermon will be a continuation of that strange and mysterious event.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

by Pastor James Jester

Re: James Fox v Heidi Washington et al; United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

The above case was heard on the 4th of December, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The issue before the court is whether or not to allow Christian Identity to be approved as an officially recognized religion by the Michigan Department of Corrections so inmates can be allowed to meet for public worship.

Most Christians could well accept Christian Identity since Identity adherents believe in most of basic historic doctrines of the Christian faith, such as: man’s fall into sin and depravity, the atonement of Christ, divine judgment, grace, forgiveness, justification and sanctification, etc. However, what really sets other people off about C. I. is their racial views (the “identity” part). They find their racial doctrine of Separatism offensive and even “racist” (a term that needs definition).

Properly understood, racism is not a bad word. Racism and its sister doctrine Separatism actually helps the various races to remain as distinct species; and aids in the preservation of an orderly society.

GOD'S VIEW ON THE HOUSE FOR THE SPIRIT AND THE SOUL

By Walt Giddings

December 15, 2019

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:20

In Lesson three we asked ourselves some questions. Is one of the marks of a Christian his ability to see the invisible? If we understand “the things that are made”, our bodies, the houses for our spirits and souls, are we understanding the invisible things of Him?

In Lesson 3 we asked, Does the Bible mention Nerves, the cells of the body’s master communication system? Believing Romans 1:20 we trusted we could see the invisible by understanding the things that are made: nerve cells. We asked, How is nerve tissue structured to time messages out to all parts of the body and back again in a cycle?