January 29, 2012 | John Bayles | The Definition of Law and Grace (1 Timothy 1:3-11)

In the last verse of today's text the Apostle Paul speaks about the "glorious Gospel." Here we discover a critical point of distinction between the purpose of the Old Testament law and the message of the New Testament Gospel. The former identifies the lawbreaker; the later sets the lawbreaker free from his captivity.

January 22, 2012 | John Bayles | Equipping the Soldier for Battle (1 Timothy 1:1-2)

There is a common argument that because of the uniqueness of Paul’s opening greeting to Timothy, the letter is not Pauline. For instance, the use of the opening phrase order, “Christ Jesus”, versus, “Jesus Christ”, as in other letters of Paul’s. Paul uses the strong word statement, “by the command of God” unlike other uses of “the will of God” to describe his apostolic calling. And the use of the closeness of his relationship to Timothy by the words, “my true son in the faith” is close, but non-similar to other descriptions of the apostle. And finally Paul’s inclusion of the word “mercy” here in the introduction is uncommon to most of the openings of his letters.

January 15, 2012 | John Bayles | Paul, Timothy, False Teachers, and False Teachings (1st & 2nd Timothy)

As stated last week, a key to understanding any given text is to first understand the context, both historical and literal, in which it was written. Today's sermon will focus on the three players appearing in Paul's letters to Timothy. We see Paul's own struggles, sometimes stated clearly, sometimes coming out from the shadows of his comments, but always powerful and instructive. Paul's exhortations to Timothy are what every one of us would desire to receive from a mentor, a wise parent, or a more seasoned Christian friend.

January 8, 2012 | John Bayles | Detained, Yet Fruitful (1 Timothy 1:1-2)

In this first in a series of sermons in his first letter to Timothy we will see the urgency that the Apostle Paul brings to his discourse with his young son in the Lord. This is clearly an intimate letter and one which captures the desire of a man detained by prison to prepare his young protege for ministry.

January 1, 2012 | John Bayles | Go Into All The World: Looking for Showers, Content with Raindrops (Psalms 126:1-6)

Can you recall those first days of your spiritual birth; those moments and days when your heart was awakened by Jesus? The Word was alive and near, worship was thrilling, prayer was like breathing. Do you sometimes look back to some former day and say, "I so deeply long to return to those days!" Or, "Lord bring those days again!" This is the cry of the psalmist and the congregation of saints who neared Jerusalem each year and sang the Songs of Zion (the Psalms of Ascent). Today's text reaches into the depths of our longing to experience again or anew the times of refreshing. As the text states, "Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongues with singing." And in response to these emotions the cry continues, "Turn again our captivity, O Lord."

December 18, 2011 | John Bayles | Go Into All the World: The Tabernacle of God and Man (1 John 1:1-14)

The Incarnation of Christ is a critical subject for us to understand. Though this falls into the category of understanding what is ultimately incomprehensible, the Bible does overwhelmingly and consistently teach the Trinity of God and the incarnation of the Son of God and the man Jesus. In an attempt to be understandable, the risk is present to confuse or mislead. But this dynamic does not excuse us as Bible interpreters from exploring this mysterious relationship between the human (the carnal) and the divine (the Son of God) who "Tabernacled" together in order that the designs of the latter might be accomplished and the weaknesses of the former might be overcome.

December 11, 2011 | John Bayles | Go Into All The World: A Race To Run (Hebrews 12:1-3)

How many of us participated in formal athletics at one time or other. Most of the time this brings fond memories of days gone by when we were younger, fitter, and willing to sacrifice most anything to the sport we loved to play. Can you still fit into that team uniform today? Is that passion matched by conditions still at the same peak level? If the answer is no to these questions, then we have a life example of what the author of Hebrews is driving at with his hearers and us today.

December 4, 2011 | S. Molla | Digging For Treasure

Most Christians are fairly confident in giving a reason for their faith and are able to cite key passages of the Bible. However, many are caught off guard when the Bible itself is attacked, undermining the very source of their arguments.

November 27, 2011 | John Bayles | Go Into All The World: Mandates of Kingdom Citizenship - Part 2 (Matthew 5:13-43)

This sermon is an expansion of the principle of imperative mandates flowing from the indicative action of Christ at the cross. But mandates they are. In this sermon the mandates of Kingdom citizenship are examined from Matthew 5:13 ff. The sermon is built upon the Reformed principal: "We are saved by grace alone, but not a grace that is alone." As the presentation stresses, we must continually be aware that we are living a reflective faith and taking initiative in our Christian witness not because we must, but because we can.

November 20, 2011 | Go Into All The World: Mandates of Kingdom Citizenship - Part 1 (Matthew 5:13-43)

There are statements in the scriptures that state established, unchangeable, indicative facts. For example, Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." The truth of the phrase is not ongoing, nor contingent upon further actions – it is an indicative statement. There are many of these types of statements in the scriptures, and many of them have to do with the finished work of Jesus Christ at the cross. Others have to do with God's view of us and our status: "You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." These are complete, finished realities – they are indicative statements.