July 31, 2011 | John Bayles | The First Dispute: God's Love For His People (Malachi 1:1-5)

"How have you loved us?" The narrowness, the foolishness, the sinfulness of this statement by the nation of Israel. This opening dispute by God's messenger with His holy people is filled with a deep forgetfulness of God's essential nature and His expressed character - God is love! Malachi is filled with a burden ( the oracle) of being the instrument of correction to the nation. They have lost their way, they have sinned, but mostly they have forgotten what God's choice of them has made them to be. They must be reminded as we too must be reminded that they were not chosen because they were worthy of love, but God's choice of them made them unique in the eyes of God and one another. This is a deep lesson to remember. If God never does a single thing for us again, we would already be recipients of a grace that is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Let us pray that we will continually be people of thanks and praise to the one who first loved us.

July 24, 2011 | John Bayles | The Longsuffering of God (Malachi 1:1)

To understand what a text of scripture means to us today, we must first understand what it meant to its original hearers. As we begin in our study of the Book of Malachi, historical and literary context are the subject. Some important questions need to be answered: who was Malachi, when did he prophecy to Israel, what was the condition of his audience, and what is the substance of his message? The desire to know what the scriptures mean to us here and now are highly dependent on what they meant to them, then and there. In order to find the riches of the book of Malachi, these questions will be addressed. May the Holy Spirit lead us into truth as we take up the task.

July 17, 2011 | John Bayles | The Glorious Gospel (Romans 16:25-27)

In this final submission to his epistle, Paul raises his voice in praise of the Gospel that he has so profoundly revealed in the entire Book of Romans. In summary of his treatise, the apostle declares in this three phrase doxology the full extent and nature of the Gospel. This last sermon from the Book of Romans highlights how the preaching of the Gospel not only remains today the most potent, dynamic, and interpretive message of all of history, but continues to be the sword of truth that forges the advance of the Kingdom of God until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

July 10, 2011 | John Bayles | Ordinary People Advancing God's Kingdom (Romans 16:20-24)

The Kingdom of God was not begun by superhuman people, but by people used by our supernatural Savior. In today's text, Paul draws back the historical curtain and gives us a glimpse into the lives of his ministry team. They are not unlike many of us. The key is willingness to be used and obedience to God's calling. When God takes our lives into his will, we see people who change the world.

July 3, 2011 | John Bayles | Forewarning Against The No-Count Dividers (Romans 16:17-20)

Mixed in with the salute from the New Covenant Divines is a strong warning of the intentions of the No-Count Dividers living in Rome who sought to subvert the message of the Gospel. As Paul brings his epistle to a close, it is important to stress how significant keeping a sharp focus on the classical orthodoxy of Paul's message was to this early expression of the body of Christ. To us today, let us be encouraged to hold the line of orthodoxy and contend for the unchanging truths of God's Word.

June 26, 2011 | John Bayles | Farewell From The New Covenant Divines (Romans 16:1-16)

In an amazing listing, the Apostle Paul sends a farewell greeting from his co-laborers in the Gospel. Of note among this catalogue are the several women listed as "fellow-workers" and "fellow-apostles." This sermon highlights the practical application of the New Covenant view of women in the home and the church founded in the radical viewpoint of the New Covenant: "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal.3:26-29).

June 19, 2011 | Joe Porter | Father's Day

Why is the church in America considered weak and without the power of secure relationships. Today Pastor Porter draws from the lives of Moses, Joshua, Elijah and Elisha to highlight the significance of the spiritual fathers, so rare, but yet so needed in the church today. Where are the fathers and the sons in God's kingdom today? Much is at stake, but a great opportunity also exists today for change, and with loyalty and faithfulness as our heartcry it is our hope that revival fires will burn again in the church. May God raise up fathers and sons in His kingdom for His glory!

June 12, 2011 | John Bayles | I Hope to Visit You (Romans 15:23-33)

As the Apostle Paul comes to the close of his letter to the Romans he projects a personal desire regarding going to Spain and on the way visiting Rome. However, he must first go to Jerusalem. Later we know he wrote to Timothy, his young son in the Lord, "I have finished the race..." However, we also know he likely never went to Spain, though he felt it was a critical part completing the work to which the Lord had called him. Why? Because he was arrested in Jerusalem before he could fulfill this mission. What is there for us to see today? We all deal with the struggles we find in life's changes. How often have we become discouraged with the disappointment of not being able to do what we thought God Himself wanted us to do - for Him. There are keys in this text which will give positive answers to life's disappointments.

June 5, 2011 | S. Molla | The Kinsman Redeemer (Book of Ruth)

The Book of Ruth is filled with spiritual truth from both the Old Testament and the New. Central to the very survival of the young Moabite woman was the presence of the Law of Moses, which provided the means of Ruth's survival from starvation, being chosen for marriage, and entering into a redemptive life relationship. You will find this survey to be factually interesting and have a deep personal spiritual application to your life.

May 29, 2011 | John Mazariegos | It's Mixed-Bag Folk That Change The World (Matthew 28:16-20)

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted" (Matthew 28:16,17).

This is one of the most amazing texts in the Bible. After all that Jesus did and said, even after His resurrection, some of those who followed Him for three years and later would change the world, doubted Him.