Have we forgiven one another?
Listen in if you missed Sunday School this week...
Keep ReadingWhy study the Trinity?
The first in our series reviewing "The Triune God" by Chapel Library...
Semper Reformanda and a new blog series
A review of the Semper Reformanda conference and plans for a new blog series...
A history of false teachers in the church
John MacArthur has just started a new series of blogs on the false teaching coming in the form of “social justice” that I would highly recommend everyone read. Of note for our sermon tomorrow is this entry on the history of false teachers in the church that I think is very pertinent to our sermon series through Jude....
Is the Bible Enough?
While many of us believe the Bible is inerrant and true in all it says we often live as if the Bible is not sufficient or enough to teach us how to live and worship as Christians....
Registration for our 2018 Rooted Conference is now open!
Registration is now open for our 2018 Rooted Conference! We are blessed to have Pastor Tom Ascol come and speak with us on “Life in the Family of God” for our second annual conference. Make sure to check out our conference page at www.therootedconference.com and get tickets now. We look forward to seeing everyone there! ...
New Sunday School Series
This week in Sunday School we will be starting a new series teaching through our church confession, the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. This is a series that Pastor Shawn and I have been desiring to start for some time and are excited to finally begin! We will not being trying to teach through the entire confession in a single go. To do that and give justice to the entire document would take years. Our approach will be to take small sections, a chapter or part of a chapter, and teach through these sections for a few weeks. We will then alternate back and forth with the other regular teaching topics that make up our usual Sunday School curriculum. Our hope is to slowly, as a church, become more familiar with the riches and insights of our Confession of Faith. We will seek to grow in our knowledge of the truths of scripture so plainly laid out in the Confession and gain a more firm grounding for our faith. We will be trying to continue our recent practice of recording the Sunday School so that those who are unable to attend every meeting will be able to follow and learn along as we embark on this exciting endeavor. See you all Sunday! ~Pastor Joshua ...
Armed to Battle Worldly Philosophies
Reflections on a talk by Nancy Pearcey, author of "Finding Truth"...
A Call to Holiness
In this sermon Pastor Shawn demonstrates the necessity of holiness in the life of a Christian and calls on us to strive for the holiness that only the Spirit of God can bring....
The Defilement of the World
In this sermon Pastor Joshua delves into the shocking story of Dinah and sees in the midst of great evil and falleness that God is teaching his people to be wary of a world that seeks their defilement....
Jacob Wrestles with God
In this sermon Pastor Shawn looks at the account of Jacob wrestling with God. We see a man who has gone from self-sufficient to now broken and ready to be used by God for his purposes....
When Brothers Dwell in Unity
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the meeting of Jacob and Esau after 20 years of hostility and separation. What we see is a beautiful picture of the reconciliation that God works in the hearts of his people along with a call to be reconciled to our brothers and sisters in Christ....
Abiding in God's Word
In this sermon Daniel looks at the account of Jacob preparing to meet his brother Esau. In examining Jacob's prayer to God we see a man who has been transformed and now stands on the promises of God in the midst of an uncertain future....
How Can I Achieve Success?
I this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the account of Jacob's prosperity while working for his uncle Laban. What we find is a reminder of how God's people gain success in this life and the life to come....
Growing in Grace
In this sermon Pastor Shawn looks at the story of Jacob fleeing Laban and points out the grace of God at work in his people. Here we see that Jacob is a different man than the one who fled his own home and brother so many years before....
Jacob Gets a Wife (or Two?)
In this sermon Pastor Shawn looks at the account of Jacob marrying Leah and Rachel. In this account we see the effects of sin but also the sovereign power of God....
Jacob's Children
In this sermon Pastor Shawn looks at the war of the wives that occurs between the sisters Leah and Rebecca as they vie for the honor and affection of Jacob. Sin abounds but God's purposes are accomplished and the tribes of Israel find their beginnings....
Jacob's Ladder
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the account of Jacob's vision of a ladder stretching down from heaven to earth. Here we see the promise of God to make a way for us to know Him, to know His favor, and to know what He requires of us....
The Transforming Power of Grace
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at Isaac sending off his son Jacob to find a wife and shows how God's grace changes his people in their very hearts....
I'll Do It My Way
In this sermon Pastor Shawn looks at the familiar passage where Jacob steals Esau's blessing. What we see is a family of people who have decided to seek God's promised blessing by selfishly declaring, "I'll do it my way!"...
The Ordinary Christian Life
In this sermon Pastor Shawn looks at the life of Isaac and finds that in the Ordinary Christian Life our God is anything but ordinary!...
The Predestination and Election of Jacob
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the prophecy that Rebecca receives concerning her two sons while they were still in her womb. What we see is an amazing display of the God's freedom to choose....
Leaving a Legacy
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the death of Abraham. By looking at Abraham's legacy we are challenged to ask what sort of legacy we will leave when we too die and are buried....
The Urgency of The Gospel
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the account of Abraham's servant bringing Rebekah back to marry Isaac. What we find is a reminder of the urgency of the gospel call for those who proclaim it as well as all who hear....
A Wife For Isaac
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the beginning of the account of Abraham seeking a wife for his son Isaac. What we find is an amazing account of the Providential hand of God at work to bring about God's purposes for his people....
What's Love Got To Do With It?
In this 6th and final sermon of the series "The Bible and Homosexuality" Pastor Joshua looks at the charge that the biblical teaching on Homosexuality is not loving but rather hateful to the Homosexual. The answer is found in the famous 'love passage' of 1 Corinthians 13 where God defines what true love is....
Exchanging The Truth For A Lie
In this 4th sermon of the series 'The Bible and Homosexuality' Pastor Shawn looks at the second half of Romans 1 and the connection between God's wrath, the great exchange of truth and falsehood, and the sin of homosexuality. The culmination of God's wrath and men's sin points to our need for a savior....
And Such Were Some Of You
In this 5th sermon of the series 'The Bible and Homosexuality' Pastor Joshua looks at the vice lists of 1 Corinthians 6 and 1 Timothy 1. He shows the problems with the new interpretations of these verses and points us back to the transformative nature of the Gospel....
What Jesus Taught About Homosexuality
In this third sermon of the series on 'The Bible and Homosexuality' Daniel asks the question that we hear so often in our culture, "Where did Jesus ever teach about homosexuality?" The answer is not what many may assume!...
The Holiness Code Then and Now
In this second sermon of the series on 'The Bible and Homosexuality' Pastor Joshua looks at the prohibitions of the holiness code in Leviticus 18 and 20. To answer the challenges of the cuture God's people are called to a deeper understanding of God's law and his grace in the Gospel....
What Was The Sin Of Sodom?
Pastor Joshua gives an introduction to this new series titled 'The Bible And Homosexuality' explaining the need to understand the Bible's teaching in this area. He then looks specifically at the notorious story of Sodom asking the question 'What was the sin of Sodom?'...
Two Christ-like Examples
Pastor Shawn looks at the end of Philippians chapter 2 and Paul's commendation of Timothy and Epaphroditus. These two men offer a great study of the servant's heart that marks Christ's people....
Work Out Your Salvation
Pastor Shawn looks at the call to work out our salvation and helps us understand this oft misunderstood but beautiful and encouraging teaching....
A Call To Radical Humility
Pastor Joshua looks at Philippians 2 and Paul's desire for the church to love one another with a radical humility. Ultimately Jesus Christ is our example of true humility....
A Gospel-Centered Life
Pastor Joshua looks at the marks of a gospel-centered life and identifies the Christian's hope, the Christian's desire, the Christian's manner of life, and the Christian's conflict....
Advancing The Gospel With Joy
Pastor Shawn looks at Philippians 1:12-18 and Paul's joy in the advancement of the gospel, no matter the cost to himself....
The Abounding Effects Of Love
Pastor Shawn starts us on our new sermon series through the letter to the Philippians and opens up with Paul's introduction....
The Hope Of The Grave
Pastor Joshua looks at the account of Sarah's death and her burial. We are reminded that for those who are in Christ the promises of God come through death and resurrection....
A Trial of Faith
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the account of Abraham offering Isaac on the altar and asks why God sends us times of testing....
A Journey From Despair To Delight
In this sermon guest preacher Russell McGee looks at Psalm 73 and the journey of Asaph from the despair of one looking on the success of the wicked to the delight of one hoping in the salvation of God. ...
The Children of Promise
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the account of Abraham casting out Ishmael and Hagar and asks what this difficult passage teaches us about who are the true children of God....
Do We Believe God?
This past Sunday we were blessed to have one of the men in our church, Carl Hattaway, fill in for Pastor Shawn while he is on sabbatical. In this sermon Carl looks at the climactic birth of the Isaac, the promised son, and challenges us to believe all that God has promised....
Sin Is Crouching At The Door
Pastor Joshua looks at the account of Abraham and Abimelech and asks what happens when the mature in faith fall into sin.gen...
Little By Little Becomes a Lot
Pastor Shawn looks at the consequences of Lot's entertaining little sins and the destruction it brings to his family. In this he offers us both a warning and a reason for hope....
God Rescues Lot
Pastor Shawn looks at the rescue of Lot from the judgement coming on Sodom. What we see is a man who has attached himself to the things of this world and it takes an act of mercy by God to extricate him....
What's Missing From Your Bible?
Pastor Joshua looks at the second part of Genesis 18 and God's sharing of his plans for judgement with Abraham. He asks why it is so important that God makes his wrath and judgement known to us and what we might miss if we ignore these important passages....
The God Who Sits And Eats With Men
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the account of Abraham meeting three strangers. Here we see first Abraham's hospitality to the strangers. On closer look it is the hospitality of God that amazes us!...
The Day Mercy Met Wrath (Good Friday Sermon)
Pastor Shawn preaches at the Good Friday joint worship service. He opens up Romans 3 and shows the mercy of God and the Wrath of God meeting at the Cross....
Conviction Of Things Not Seen
Pastor Shawn looks at Genesis 17 and the promise of Isaac's birth. He points us beyond Isaac himself to the promised Redeemer Jesus Christ. ...
What's in a Covenant?
Pastor Shawn looks at the Covenant of Circumcision with Abraham and begins to open up the scope of Reformed Baptist Covenant Theology showing how important this subject is to us today....
When The Faithful Falter
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at Genesis 16 and the fall of faithful Abram into sin and doubt. God responds with mercy....
The King of Salem
In this sermon Pastor Shawn looks at the encounter of Abram with Melchizedek and helps us see what this teaches us about Jesus Christ....
Our Covenant-Keeping God
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the covenant that God makes with Abram and asks how we today can have a part in the promised blessings of God....
Redemption and Restoration
Pastor Shawn looks at the story of Abram's rescue of his nephew Lot and asks what this can teach us about our own temptations to pursue the world and how we can rescue one another when we fall....
When God's People Argue
Pastor Joshua looks at the separation of Abram and Lot and asks how God's people are to respond to conflict....
When God's People Stumble
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the sin of Abram when he lies about his wife and almost loses her to Pharaoh. He then asks where God's people are to find hope when they stumble and fall....
The Obedience of Faith
Pastor Shawn looks at the calling of Abram. God calls. God gives faith. Will we follow?...
The Pride of Babel
Pastor Shawn looks at the reason for Babel and how we can be redeemed from the judgement for our prideful hearts....
Race and Redemption
Pastor Joshua looks at the Table of Nations passage from Genesis 10 and shows us how the Bible can bring reformation to our understanding of race....
A Heritage of Sin and Righteousness
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the account of Noah and his sons and asks the question, "How can we pass on a Godly legacy?"...
Grace and Assurance Through Judgment
Pastor Shawn looks at Genesis 9:1-17 and the account of God's covenant with Noah asking what assurance we can have as we all face God's judgement for our sins....
Magi - How Will You Respond To The Light?
Pastor Shawn looks at the story of the Magi seeking the new born Christ. They followed the light of a star to find their king. How will you respond to the light of Scripture that points us all to Christ our King?...
The Word Became Flesh
Pastor Joshua looks at the introduction to the Gospel of John and asks what it means that the Word became flesh....
God Remembers Noah
Pastor Shawn looks at Genesis 8 and asks what it means that God remembered Noah....
A Pleasing Aroma - Looking For a Perfect Sacrifice
Pastor Josh looks at Noah's sacrifice after exiting the Ark and asks how we can be pleasing to God today....
Judgment is Coming
Pastor Shawn looks at the judgment of the flood and points us to our own need for salvation by the blood of Christ....
The Salvation of the Sons of God
Who are the mysterious Sons of God from Genesis 6? What about the Nephilim? Could they possibly have any relevance to us today? Pastor Josh looks at this difficult passage and challenges us to see that even the most obscure parts of scripture are 'God-breathed' and profitable to the people of God!...
What's in a List of Names?
In this sermon Pastor Josh looks at the genealogy recorded in Genesis 5. What we find is a testimony to the God who always keeps his promises....
The Way of Seth
In this sermon Pastor Shawn looks at the way of Seth as it is contrasted with the way of Cain. Those who follow the way of Cain boast in themselves while the way of Seth is marked by those 'who call on the name of the Lord'....
The Way of Cain
In this sermon Pastor Shawn looks at the fourth chapter of Genesis and the familiar story of Cain and Abel. Here we find the continuation of the war between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman....
Mercy and Judgement
In this sermon Pastor Shawn looks at the end of Genesis 3 and the expulsion from the garden. Here we see side by side the judgement of God and his great mercy toward those who repent and believe in his promises....
Sin and Redemption
Pastor Joshua shows how the sin of Adam and Eve marks our world and our hearts. Yet even in judgement God promises hope!...
Imago Dei
Pastor Shawn looks at the creation of man in God's image. In this passage we see the Divine Plan, the Divine Pattern, the Divine Purpose, and the Divine Rest....
The Perfection of Paradise
In today's sermon Pastor Shawn looks at Genesis 2 and the account of God creating Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden....
Genesis - A Book of Beginnings
Pastor Joshua introduces the book of Genesis and sets a groundwork for how to approach and understand this often disputed book of the Bible. One of the guiding principles set forth is 'If God wrote it then God gets to interpret it!'...
The Gospel and Doxology
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at the final verses of Romans and asks what Paul's conclusion is concerning the gospel. We are reminded that the gospel is necessary to save the lost and strengthen the saints. All this is ultimately for the glory of God....
Spiritually dry or spiritually rich?
Although I hope we all desire to live a life of deep spiritual joy, many of us know people who have gone through a time of spiritual dryness or have experienced that dryness ourselves. To some extent, spiritual ups and downs may be part of the Christian life, but could it be possible to avoid or at least minimize these spells of spiritual dryness?...
False Teachers
Pastor Shawn takes a careful look at Paul's warning to avoid false teachers and suggests how we can prepare ourselves to face the many false teachings prevalent in our day....
A List of Names
In this sermon Pastor Shawn looks at chapter 16 of Romans and asks what we can learn from a list of names. It's more than you think!...
Pursuit of a 'Calling'
In this sermon Pastor Joshua looks at Paul's plans for his future ministry and asks how we can think about our own callings....
Paul's Reflections: The Life of a Missionary
In this sermon Pastor Josh looks at Paul's reflections on his ministry and asks what we can learn about Christian Missions from the Apostle to the Gentiles....
Abounding in Hope
In this sermon Pastor Shawn looks at Romans 15:8-13 and the hope that we have in our savior Jesus Christ....
A Model Family?
The Old Testament is packed with examples of family life. Since all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching and training in righteousness (1 Timothy), does this mean we should be modeling our homes after the families we read about in the Old Testament?...
The Example of Christ
Pastor Shawn looks at Romans 15:1-7 and calls on us to look to Christ as our example of seeking our brother's good....
The Gospel of the Kingdom
In this sermon on July 27 Pastor Joshua looks at Paul's words concerning the Kingdom of God and reminds us of the Gospel by which we have been saved....
The Original Family
So, what does the Bible say about family? Let's begin with the Old Testament....
Don't be a Stumbling Block
In the sermon on July 20th Pastor Joshua looks at Paul's instruction to not allow our freedoms in Christ to cause our brother to stumble. If we don't take care then we risk harming our brother as well as ourselves!...
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How do you define family?
How do you define family? As we explore this together we hope to uncover what it means and how relevant it is in our culture....
Welcome One Another
In the sermon on July 6th Pastor Shawn looks at the beginning of Romans 14 and shows Paul's concern for unity in the body of Christ. The key is to know your M&M's (rather MnM's)!...
In Honor Of The Lord
Pastor Shawn continues in Romans 14 looking at what it means to live in honor of the Lord in all that we do....
The Centrality of Love
In the sermon on June 22nd Pastor Joshua expounds the second half of Romans 13 showing the centrality of love to the Christian life. In the process we are challenged in our own understanding of love and law. Christ is the key to living a life of love....
Submission to Governing Authorities
In the sermon on June 29th Pastor Joshua expounds the beginning of Romans 13 and why paying taxes is a mark of a true Christian...
Book Recommendation
This past Sunday we looked at the introduction to Luke's Gospel and talked about the importance of the Word of God to our lives as believers. A good book that I'd recommend to all of you on that topic is Kevin Deyoung's book "Taking God at His Word". Like many of his other books he takes very important Christian ideas and explains them in easy to understand ways. The book ...
Keep ReadingAn End to The Beginning!
We finished Genesis! It has been a wonderful and growing time as we have spent the past year-and-a-half preaching through the first book of the Bible. I hope you have all appreciated the beauty and applicability of God's Word. I hope you have also grown to see more and more how much the entire Bible is about Jesus Christ! Through the course of Genesis we saw the wonders o...
Keep ReadingSunday School - Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Yesterday we finished 1 Corinthians in Sunday School! What will be next you ask? For the next few weeks we are going to take a break from going through a book of the Bible and look at some articles that will push us to look biblically at our life as believers in Christ. The first article is by Tim Keller and addresses Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the life of the Chur...
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