Sermon Archives Page

by Alan Breitenstein

March 1, 2020

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 17:20

In the last message I left the question as to us being gods over whom or what and gave as a possibility of us being gods to the trillions of cells in our body.

Strong's gave the definition of god as "being as a magistrate" 

Magistrate: A civil officer or lay judge who administers the law, especially one who conducts a court that deals with minor offenses and holds preliminary hearings for more serious ones. So, as a god we can deal with the minor and less serious matters but not the major ones. We need help with the major ones.

This message is like all the messages heard in this gathering, it is hypnotic and meant to plant a seed so when certain events occur, or certain words are said you will remember what was illustrated here.

To make something perfectly clear, if this message offends you in any way I am just the messenger and likewise,if this message brings joy to you in any way, I am just the messenger.

The reading for the day has always baffled me. Faith as a grain of mustard seed. Can anyone in this congregation say that their faith is bigger than a mustard seed We certainly like to think so. Can anyone say that their faith has moved mountains? If we think of a mountain as being a high hill or high rocky terrain, then the answer would be no. What if that mountain was considered to be an incurable disease, sin that we think is unforgivable? What if that mountain was people whom we are trying to awake? Why is it that we know that God is with us but the minute we try to move a mountain, doubt creeps in? Did God make us that way so that we would not be successful ever or is God challenging us to do better?

CONCERNING COMMUNION

By James Jester 

February 23, 2020

Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:26-29

Introduction

Are the Sacraments necessary for our spiritual growth or ultimately for our final salvation? Many churches believe they are. That is certainly their business and I would not condemn them for their beliefs. But the point here is, do the sacraments have Biblical support for what these churches claim? The Protestants have narrowed the Sacraments down to two: Baptism and Communion; but even these lack a full and unquestionable support from the Scriptures (in my opinion).

If you were to ask me, what is my favorite sacrament of the two, I would have to say Communion (I’ve never been fond of water). Likewise, Communion is very meaningful to many sincere Christians; and I do not intend to offend anyone with this study.

Baptism and Communion are not necessary to our salvation for that is already accomplished by the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ. The Sacraments should not be looked upon as a “law” although many churches imply this meaning. If they consider the Sacraments as such, I should remind them that my main premise to refute this idea is that the Old Covenant law was “abolished” (Eph. 2:15), as Paul declared. This I documented thoroughly in the last sermon. Since the law is gone in regard to our covenant relationship to God, there is no need for a substitute law, as the Sacraments are sometimes considered. Instead, the Sacraments should be referred to as rites or ceremonies.

ENGLAND'S CONFUSING RELIGIONS

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

February 16, 2020

Scripture Reading:  Mark 16:15

STUART KINGS

The Stuart Kings of England were terrible. They were horrible. King James I; his son, Charles I; his son, Charles II; and Charles II’s brother, James II were the lowest of the low. James I was the first king of the Stuarts, who was not just king over three countries, but ruled with two different parliaments in three different nations which had three different prominent religions:

1. Scotland had just turned Presbyterian,

2. England was Pope-less Catholic; called Episcopalian in the United States; the Church of England or Anglican in England, and

3. Ireland was predominately Catholic.

Presbyterian was from the bottom up; the people chose the clergy. The Church of England was from the top down; the clergy was appointed by the king. Catholicism was from the top down; the clergy was appointed by the Pope’s staff.

A notable event happened in the early days of King James I’s reign. On November 5, 1605, a group of English Catholics attempted to assassinate the king and destroy Parliament in the Palace of Westminster. However, the Gunpowder Plot was exposed and prevented, and the convicted plotters were hanged, drawn, and quartered.

IMAGE - PART 2

by Walt Giddings

February 9, 2020

Greetings kindred and fellow sheep. You are my classmates in God’s Classroom. Shall we hearken to and heed the Real Teacher, The Master, Jesus Christ?

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:6  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again, and rend you.

What does rend mean? Who or what are the Dogs? Swine?

Is Wisdom the issue here? What action is the wisest to take? Should we hearken to and heed the Master? What is the name of the Book of Wisdom? What constitutes Wisdom?

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

By Alan Breitenstein

February 2, 2020

Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:7

How many different types of cells are in the human body?

There are about 200 different types of cells in the body. Here are just a few examples:

• red blood cells (erythrocytes)

• skin cells

• neurons (nerve cells)

• fat cells

Humans are multicellular, complex organisms. The cells inside our bodies are “specialized.” This means that each type of cell performs a unique and special function. For this reason, each of the 200 different types of cells in the body has a different structure, size, shape, and function, and contains different organelles (any of a number of organized or specialized structures within a living cell.) 

MAN - A COMPLEX BEING

"You have possessed me in my inward parts; you have covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you; for I am awesomely and wonderfully made… My substance was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret…Your eyes did see my substance, yet being unformed; and in your Book (DNA) All is written." Psalms 139:13-16

by Pastor Mark Downey

October 7, 2012

Scripture Reading: I Kings 19:9-12

What gets your attention?  A tornado twisting through your immediate neighborhood?  An earthquake that shakes you out of your bed?  Or perhaps a smoke alarm that indicates your home is on fire?  People often refer jokingly to a bolt of lightning or a burning bush before they are motivated to take notice of something, even though these two supernatural elements are mentioned in the Bible and got people’s attention.  There are times when spectacular events ordained by the divine hand of God do not register in the minds of man.  It’s just “mother nature” or the inane mindset that ‘it is what it is.’  However, God is not without other means by which He gets your attention. 

We are living in a day and age where Madison Avenue is trying to sell you something, either by hook or crook, meaning unethical mind-control techniques.  And thus, we are bombarded every day with an assault of visual and audio advertising, unless you live in a cave like Elijah.  Even churchianity has jumped onto the illicit bandwagon of smoke and mirrors, gimmicks and trickery.  There’s even an occult technology of power to reach you on a subconscious level to make you hear voices in your head.   But, today’s message is to help you overcome all of that ungodly influence.  Do you know how to focus on Christ?

ABOUT BAPTISM

by Pastor Jim Jester

January 26, 2020

Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:11-12

Introduction

If you ask a dozen Christians what is the meaning of baptism, you will get many different answers. Even among Protestant churches, one will get differing opinions on the meaning, purpose and mode of the alleged “ordinance” of Baptism. Some churches have split over these issues, or whether to observe the custom at all. The same can be said of the Eucharist (or Communion/Lord’s Supper). But are these symbolic practices, commonly called “the Sacraments”, really necessary?

Furthermore, we should ask, are these Sacraments necessary for what? Are they necessary for spiritual growth, or, for any kind of salvation? I realize that I am entering a controversial area of theology and some may disagree with what I have to say on this topic, but that is ok – we have liberty here. I hope these studies will answer such questions.

by Pastor Jim Jester

A two part Series on the Sacraments. A proxy ritual is not needed.

IMAGE - PART 1

by Walt Giddings

Greetings kindred. We are on a first name basis here. My name is Walter. I am your pedagogue whose mission is to lead you to the Real Teacher. Is one of the marks of a Christian his capacity to see the invisible? Is this strange to an unbelieving world? Direct from Romans 1:20 we have this blessed assurance. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.” This fifth Bible Biology lesson may be the most invisible.

Scripture Reading:  Genesis 1:26-28

v. 28: The dominion covenant, we recall, received a major interruption in Genesis chapter three: Adam fell. Heaven and earth separated, losing oneness. Adam became a prisoner of time, fell into the image of the earthy, becoming mortal, his eyes now holden, an invisible realm no longer visible to him. Without divine intervention Adam can no longer see into what is now invisible to him. This presents in this lesson some difficulty.

vv. 26-27: We have two words, both mentioned three times. The first is God. The second is our lesson title : Image. These two verses emphasize the creation of Adam “in the image of God.” (v 26) “after our likeness.” Where is the likeness? Was Adam also created “in the likeness of God?” (Genesis 5:1). Here in verse one, God’s infallible Word, our question is answered. “In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him.” Why does God wait to tell us that “He created to make” His son Adam in his own likeness?

Why are we told all the way over in chapter five? There is a reason.

by James Jester

Isn’t it Ironic?

January is often referred to as "Generals Month" since no less than four famous Confederate Generals claimed January as their birth month: James Longstreet (Jan. 8, 1821), Robert E. Lee (Jan. 19, 1807), Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (Jan. 21, 1824), and George Pickett (Jan. 28, 1825). It is ironic that MLK day sits between two of these birthdays: Lee and Jackson. I have the dream that one day our country will return to God’s Law and honor the leaders that have actually made the country originally great.