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).

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

June 2, 2024

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 7:6:  “For thou art an holy [separate] people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”

Who is this written about? It can’t be everyone who is alive in the world, for the LORD, the God of these people said, that He has chosen them“to be a special people unto Himself.”And if the LORD God chose a people to be special unto Himself, wouldn’t there be other peoples who are “un-special” unto Him?

One can learn much about God’s character by studying His various names. One of these names is “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Early in the Scriptures, one can realize that God is a God of people and relationships. Understanding God’s covenants is critical to understanding God’s plan for Israel, His “special people unto Himself.”  The first thing worth mentioning about the Abrahamic Covenant is the fact that God ratified it with Abram alone. Even though Abram was the recipient of the Covenant and the representative of the Israel nation,

“…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? 

Rev. Jim Jester

May 19, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: Genesis 17:1-7

The first mention of God’s covenant with Abram is found in chapter 15 of Genesis. Chapter 17 continues that thought and is crucial to our understanding of the Bible.

We have just read how Abram had his name changed to Abraham, because he was elected to be “a father of many nations.” The name change signified a change in his status under God. Most seminaries teach our clergy that Abraham was only the father of the “Jews.” This makes God a liar, for the modern jews (until 1948) have never founded any nation, much less many nations. And just imagine, if you lived prior to 1948 and are reading the Bible and see the words “a father of many nations have I made thee” and you were told, as today, that the jews are the country of Israel, when there was no such country, you would respond with something like, “You’re nuts!” The people of Israel are not holed up in a particular country, but are scattered throughout the west. Israel is a people, not a geo-political state.

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 Pastor Jim Jester

May 5, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: Philippians 2:9-11

In my recent sermon on Genesis 4:1, “A Mistranslation,” I provided some history on how our Bible came into being; noting how the Scriptures became somewhat corrupted. The process of preserving the Scriptures began about 3 BC by 70 translators; thus called LXX, or the Septuagint. This was the Bible of Jesus and the Apostles. But since New Testament times the Scriptures became quite convoluted since the preservation process was taken over by the Masoretes, covering the period of 450 - 1000 AD.

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? 

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

April 21, 2024

Scripture Reading: Psalm 55:12-14

King David is one of the great heroes of Israel. He was a shepherd, who as a boy and young man, killed a bear and a lion, protecting his flock. As a teenager, he slew the giant Goliath when there was no one in Israel’s army who would even attempt to fight him. He was a loyal subject of King Saul who refused to murder him when he had the chance, for he refused to kill the Lord’s anointed.

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.

by Brian Jones

April 7, 2024

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:11-19

This message is about being thankful! 

We need to always be thankful to God every day for His blessings and to always thank Him and thank each other as well.  And when we're obedient and submit to God's Word, then God thanks us too.