Rev. Jim Jester

July 7, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: Ezekiel 36:22-25

INTRODUCTION

I have spoken on this topic about two years ago. But recently, someone asked me about Baptism, so this sermon is the result of that. Keep in mind that I am not trying to make enemies here, so I am not picking on my Baptist friends. I simply want to give the topic some balance, since in my lifetime I have seen lots of imbalance on the subject. And, I want you to see how different a subject can actually be when considered in the light of its full Scriptural context (not just part of the Word).

“if ye will … keep my covenant”

By Walter Giddings

June 23, 2024

Featured Scripture: Exodus 19:5

[1] Are we the seed of Abraham? 

[2] Are we the children of the miracle Child Isaac, Isaac’s sons, Saxons? 

[3] Are we the living descendants of both Houses, the House of Judah and the House of Israel?  

[4] Were we dispersed among all nations, becoming the greatest migrators on the globe, migrating through the Caucasus Mountains, becoming the Caucasian Race, much more in number than the vagabond sons of Cain, “who was of that wicked One”? [1 John 3:12] 

[5] Are we, therefore, The Covenant People of God?

The Title of our Lesson shows the subject matter is not the genealogies of The Bible, nor our inheritance from them. This is our 3rd Lesson, Covenantkeepers which is clearly based on our 5 conclusions. We are aware of this mystery: “that blindness in part is happened to Israel”! [Romans 11:25] 

by Rev. Jim Jester

June 9, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: Colossians 2:13-15

INTRODUCTION

For the most part we will be in the Book of Colossians. Paul’s letter to the Colossians was primarily written to deal with certain doctrinal heresies that were doing much damage at Colosse. It was a mixture of Judaism and an early form of Gnosticism, which taught that Jesus was superhuman but not truly God. Thus those who believe in Christ must also go through angels (ref. Col. 2:18) to obtain deeper levels of spirituality. This reminds me of Roman Catholicism, which believes in the veneration of Saints, and praying to them; thus making them mediators in place of Jesus Christ. Another error insisted upon ritualism and asceticism (strict rules to merit favor; ref. Col. 2:21) as the foundation of moral teaching. Thus their theological ideas and ethical code alike were at fault. Both errors flowed from a common source—the false conception that evil resides in matter (flesh) — a source of many heresies (no marriage for priests; ref. Col. 2:23).

“…for an everlasting covenant”

By Walter Giddings

May 26, 2024

Featured Scripture: Genesis 17:7

To what do covenantkeepers always return?  Does the God of our Fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob/Israel, ever fail to keep his covenant with the seed of our Fathers?  And the answer is ...?  So, God is not The Failure in Covenant keeping!  Who fails to keep the “everlasting covenant”?  Who? 

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

May 12, 2024

Scripture Reading: Genesis 5:27:

“And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years; and he died.”

THE AGE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PEOPLES

The book of Hebrews tells of the Hebrews who were living in the beginning of the New Testament days. What did this epistle say to this group who were the ancestors of the Abrahamic covenant? This was not the people who are known as the Jews today, but it was the people who were of the Abrahamic covenant, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was the descendants of Eber (Hebrews), who was the great-great grandson of Noah.

by Walter Giddings

April 28, 2024

Scripture of reference: Romans 9:3-5   

“…to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and …”

Much of Churchianity has adopted Dispensational Theology that purposes to dispense with The Covenants!  To Pastor Don, Pastor James, Pastor Downey, and the elders of this local body of Christ I owe a deep Debt of Gratitude!  They have unfailingly preached The Covenants, in some cases, not just years, but decades.  The job of The Gospel Herald is to keep the Body of Christ “in remembrance of these things though ye know them” [2 Peter 1:12]. We are in Romans, chapter 11: 

   26 And so all Israel shall be saved: 

              as it is written, There shall come out

              of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn

              away ungodliness from Jacob: 

     27 For this is my covenant unto them,

              when I shall take away their sins.

                                                                   Romans chapter eleven.   

What happens when some receive not Jesus taking away their Sins?!  Some say, “all Israel shall be saved”, period, end of argument, exclamation point!  (Romans 9:6).  Are they right? 

A skit by FGCP congregation members

Narrative compiled by Alan Breitenstein based on Old Testament Scripture

April 14, 2024

This message would best be heard than read. 

Opening Scripture Reading:  Joshua 24:15c

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

NARRATOR      1st Samuel Chapter 8 

1  And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba

3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

ELDERS   

5 Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make     us a king to judge us like all the nations.