Easter service at Island Community Church, March 31st, 2013

Gal 2:16  "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." 

Today we look at the question, "Whose faith? His, or ours?" Is it the faith of Christ, or faith in Christ? Join us today for the Gospelstudy podcast!

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." Join us today for the Gospelstudy podcast!

Today on Gospelstudy we find Paul the Apostle calling Peter down on the carpet, and made this statement to him: "Why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?" (2:14)

Have you ever met anyone who has done this? A serious, serious breach of our freedom in Christ, which Paul took very seriously, enough to call out another Apostle, in public, and made a public example of! 

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Part 2 of 2

When trouble comes a knockin', we need to do what David did: "He strengthened himself in the LORD his God."

This is the subject of today's sermon. Please listen to part one first, then come back for the conclusion of this message, heard here. 

Preached at Island Community Church on March 24th, 2013.

Taken from 1 Samuel chapter 30, verses 1-6.

1Sa 30:1-6  Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire,  (2)  and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.  (3)  So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.  (4)  Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.  (5)  And David's two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive.  (6)  Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

​But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was to be blamed. (Gal 2:11)

​For before certain men came from James, he would eat together with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to draw back and began to separate himself, fearing those of the circumcision party. (Gal 2:12)

​And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. (Gal 2:13)

Today on Gospelstudy we are instructed to "Remember the Poor." Could you be more specific?

We'll see that the Bible indeed is very specific regarding this. Join us!

Gal 2:9-10  and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace which was given to me, they gave me and Barnabas their right hands of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised;  (10)  only they desired that we should remember the poor, which indeed I made every effort to do this very thing.

Today on Gospelstudy we look at the legalists of Paul's day, and how they crept into the Church. Join us!

1 ​Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, also taking Titus along. 2 ​And I went up by revelation, and I set before them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those with influence, lest somehow I might run, or had run, in vain. 3 ​But not even Titus who was with me, although he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised; 4 ​and that was because of false brothers secretly brought in (who slipped in to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might reduce us to slavery), 

The Apostle Paul said that the Lord Jesus had a brother named "James." We'll look at this and more today on the Gospelstudy podcast!

Greetings and God bless! Tune in for a short ministry update!

Once again, "When it pleased God...to reveal His Son in me." Today we look at the When, the What, and the Why. Join us today for the Gospelstudy podcast!

Preached at Island Community Church on March 17th, 2013.

What would you do if God were to call your cell phone?

Today on the Gospelstudy radio program, we look at the 6 possible answers.

"When it pleased God."

I've heard it said, "God is seldom early, and never late!"

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Today our 15 minute study takes us to the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. Join us!

Gal 1:11-12  But I make known to you, brothers, the gospel preached by me is not according to man.  (12)  For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men?"

How about you? Man pleaser, or God pleaser? Join us today for the Gospelstudy podcast!

I have been blessed with the ability to keenly observe my surroundings. Some might say that attention to detail is my forte! 

This morning while walking the dog and waiting for her to do her thing, I observed a pine cone laying on the ground. What got my attention was its shape. Unlike the normal pine cone, it was shaped into a spiral or almost twisted. Thus began the train of thought as it derailed to “imperfection.”

 I live on a lake and its residents are geese, ducks, swans and numerous other water fowl. At first glance all the geese looked the same but as we became acquainted, each one has its own “imperfection” which made it unique and easily identified. There is “Lefty” who is missing part of the webbing on his left foot. There is a duck named “Jack” because he has one eye. The swans look identical as they gracefully float by until you see one has a chip out of his beak (that’s “George”)!

It is human nature to seek perfection in everything. We look for the perfect mate, the perfect house, the perfect car, the perfect dress, etc. When something, or someone, falls short of perfection, we cast it off and keep looking, but, never finding! And yet, where man sees the “imperfection”, God sees the uniqueness that He created! I know you are thinking “God does not make junk. His creation is perfect.”  This is where I came to the conclusion of the “PERFECT IMPERFECTION.” 

Maybe I am just a champion for the underdog, or maybe I can relate to their imperfections, but somehow the imperfect water fowl bring me more joy than the others. Perhaps the same is true for God. He saw all our imperfections before we were born and by His grace and mercy He still loves us!!!

Scripture says it this way:

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

“Your eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect…” (Psalm 130:16 KJV)

“…man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7)

“But God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8)

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9)

And so let us rejoice in our own imperfections and accept the imperfections of others because those imperfections are what makes us unique and perfect in the merciful eyes of God!

Welcome to our Bible study in the Book of Galatians, Paul's defense of the faith against legalism. Join us today for Gospelstudy!

​"I marvel that you are turning so quickly from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, ​which is not another; except there are certain people who trouble you and wish to pervert the gospel of Christ. ​But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach a gospel to you other than what we preached to you, let him be accursed. ​As we have said before, and I say again just now, if anyone preaches a gospel to you other than what you received, let him be accursed." (Gal 1:6-9)

Preached at Island Community Church on March 10th, 2013.

Taken from Romans 15:13--"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing."

Join us for our last study in Romans. We focus on this verse: "Now I urge you, brothers, to look out for those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them." (verse 17)

Always remember: The Holy Spirit unites, Satan divides.

Paul told those in Rome that he wanted to come there and visit but he was hindered. And the reason he was hindered, in this case, was because he was "occupied" with kingdom work! You and I ought to do likewise!

"And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come." (Luke 19:13)

Today we continue through Romans chapter 15, as Paul is wrapping up this letter, with some closing remarks, including:

Rom 15:14  Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, having been filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others.

We look at the importance of admonishing one another, and how to do that correctly. Join us today for the Gospelstudy podcast!

Today on Gospelstudy we look at the truly AWESOME God of Hope! Please join us for this uplifting Bible study!

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (15:13)

Rom 15:7-8  Therefore receive one another, just as also Christ received you, to the glory of God.  (8)  Now I say that Christ Jesus has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, in order to confirm the promises to the fathers,

Today on the Gospelstudy podcast, the Apostle Paul gives us this instruction:

(15:1) ​We then who are strong are obligated to bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (15:2) ​Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

Notice, we are "obligated". Find out more today, as we study Romans chapter 15!

Don't have a verse 23 in Romans chapter 14 of your Bible? The Majority Text does, and most Greek manuscripts add Paul's closing doxology to the end of Chapter 14, which we look at today!

(14:24) Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began,
(14:25) but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the eternal God, for obedience to the faith--
(14:26) To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen